4A cross country: CV boys take 3rd, girls 4th

PASCO – The Central Valley boys ran into a force the Bears couldn’t match Saturday at the State 4A cross country meet.

Gig Harbor had the first three finishers as it thumped the field at benign Sun Willows Golf Course. Gig Harbor finished with 37 points, outdistancing runner-up Redmond (119) and defending champion Central Valley (149) in third.

CV coach Kieran Mahoney wasn’t the least bit discouraged. He pointed out that Gig Harbor benefitted greatly from two transfers this fall.

The Bears’ top finisher, Corey Hunter, finished out of the medals at 23rd in 15 minutes, 55.63 seconds. The top 16 earn medals.

“We raced well,” Mahoney said. “Our top seven were within probably 30 seconds (actually 38 seconds) apart. It was a great pack. My hat’s off to Gig (Harbor). What I’ve always said is we are home-grown boys in the Valley. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

The highest-placing Greater Spokane League runner was Peter Helman of Ferris (15:37.11), who finished 11th.

In the girls, CV finished fourth, earning a trophy. The Bears had 146 points. Bellarmine Prep captured the title with 92.

It was a rough race for CV. Sarah White (18:59.62) was the Bears’ top finisher at 35th.

Defending champion Alexa Efraimson of Camas shattered the course record (16:49.10), topping her time of a year ago by nearly a minute. She won by 55 seconds.

The highest placing GSL runner was Gracie Ledwith of Lewis and Clark (18:56.97), who was 31st.