Lady Tigers claim Apple Ridge XC title; Tiger boys finish third
Wins from Abigail Chamberlain and Savannah Harper helped send the Lady Tigers to the top of the podium.
Updated
The Lady Tiger XC team gathers on the Apple Ridge Run podium with their team trophy after edging Hanford by three points in Yakima. Photos by EHS XC, Shannon Lowry and Casey Devine
YAKIMA — The Ephrata girls won the Apple Ridge Run Invitational on Saturday, scoring 34 points to Hanford's 37 in a 20-team field, open to 2A, 3A and 4A schools. The Tiger boys placed third.
The cross country meet features three separate race courses. Each team's top two finishers on each course score toward the team total.
"We knew it was going to be a tight team race; so thankful and excited it went our way," Ephrata head coach Lyndsy Roberts said. "It took all of our girls across the board to secure the team win."
The Lady Tigers had first-place finishers on two of the three courses and all six scorers placed in the top 15.
Senior Abigail Chamberlain won the "Figure 8 Course" in 18 minutes, 59 seconds ahead of runner-up Cedarcrest's (Duvall) Alexa Weisgerber. It was Chamberlain's first cross country race since missing last season due to injury. Fellow Tiger senior Hannah Malone placed ninth on the same course in 21:15.
Senior Abigail Chamberlain runs to a win on the Figure 8 course. Chamberlain won in 18:59 in her first cross country race since missing last season with an injury.
"It was so rewarding to watch Abigail compete in a cross country race again," Roberts said. "After a tough junior year Abigail never gave up on herself and continued to work hard and be committed to the team. Incredibly proud of this effort and so excited for what this season has in store for her moving forward."
Junior Savannah Harper won the "Race Course" event in 19:35, eight seconds ahead of runnerup Kiera Lanier of Cheney, while Ephrata freshman Zoie Grubb placed fifth in 21:06.
"Savannah ran with confidence and crushed her course," Roberts said. "Despite the stiff competition she remained consistent and calm throughout the race. The victory was her first-ever individual win, which is not an easy thing to do in any cross country race, let alone a large invitational field."
On the "Orchard Loop" — the course Roberts called the most difficult of the three — EHS junior Rebecca Wiser finished third in 21:07 and sophomore Annabelle Adams, the Lady Tigers' final scorer, was 15th in 24:30.
EHS sophomore Annabelle Adams runs the Orchard Loop. Adams placed 15th in 24:30 as Ephrata's second scorer on the course, called the day's most difficult by head coach Lyndsy Roberts.
"Annabelle was placed in the hardest course and stepped up for the team," Roberts said. "Without her grit and effort in adverse conditions it may have not gone our way. She represented everything that makes XC a true team sport."
On the boys side, Selah claimed the team title with 33 points. Cedarcrest was second with 62, just two points ahead of the Tigers at 64.
In the day's most-crowded race, Ephrata junior Caleb Fitts placed second on the Race Course in a personal-best time of 15:52, eight seconds behind winner Asher Downey of Kennewick. Fitts cut 14 seconds off his previous best, the 16:06 he ran on the same course to place seventh at last fall's CWAC District Championships.
Junior Caleb Fitts crosses the finish line second on the Race Course in a personal-best 15:52 at the Apple Ridge Run Invitational.
"Caleb continues to be our leader," Roberts said. "His time of 15:52 was a new personal best and placed him second in the biggest race of the day."
Freshman Seve Molitor was Ephrata's second scorer on the Race Course, finishing 16th in 17:30. Freshman Eli Leenhouts, whom Roberts singled out for an impressive race, placed 24th in 18:02.
Freshman Eli Leenhouts (376) runs in a pack on the Race Course.
On the Figure 8, sophomore Caleb Schooler placed sixth in a personal-best 16:49 and junior Mitchell Johnson earned a varsity finish with an 11th-place, personal best time of 17:33.
On the Orchard Loop, sophomore Louden Leenhouts placed 12th in 18:14 and senior Grant Adams was 17th in 19:06.
Next up, Ephrata travels to the Othello Golf Club course to face Selah and Othello at 4 p.m. this Thursday, Sept. 24.
"Selah always provides great competition," Roberts said. "Excited for the challenge."
After a quick recovery, the team travels to the Nike Bob Firman Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 26 at The Course in Spokane Valley.
"The Bob Firman Invite will provide a state-like atmosphere that will help our athletes later in the season," Roberts said.
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Lady Tigers claim Apple Ridge XC title; Tiger boys finish third
Wins from Abigail Chamberlain and Savannah Harper helped send the Lady Tigers to the top of the podium.
YAKIMA — The Ephrata girls won the Apple Ridge Run Invitational on Saturday, scoring 34 points to Hanford's 37 in a 20-team field, open to 2A, 3A and 4A schools. The Tiger boys placed third.
The cross country meet features three separate race courses. Each team's top two finishers on each course score toward the team total.
"We knew it was going to be a tight team race; so thankful and excited it went our way," Ephrata head coach Lyndsy Roberts said. "It took all of our girls across the board to secure the team win."
The Lady Tigers had first-place finishers on two of the three courses and all six scorers placed in the top 15.
Senior Abigail Chamberlain won the "Figure 8 Course" in 18 minutes, 59 seconds ahead of runner-up Cedarcrest's (Duvall) Alexa Weisgerber. It was Chamberlain's first cross country race since missing last season due to injury. Fellow Tiger senior Hannah Malone placed ninth on the same course in 21:15.
"It was so rewarding to watch Abigail compete in a cross country race again," Roberts said. "After a tough junior year Abigail never gave up on herself and continued to work hard and be committed to the team. Incredibly proud of this effort and so excited for what this season has in store for her moving forward."
Junior Savannah Harper won the "Race Course" event in 19:35, eight seconds ahead of runnerup Kiera Lanier of Cheney, while Ephrata freshman Zoie Grubb placed fifth in 21:06.
"Savannah ran with confidence and crushed her course," Roberts said. "Despite the stiff competition she remained consistent and calm throughout the race. The victory was her first-ever individual win, which is not an easy thing to do in any cross country race, let alone a large invitational field."
On the "Orchard Loop" — the course Roberts called the most difficult of the three — EHS junior Rebecca Wiser finished third in 21:07 and sophomore Annabelle Adams, the Lady Tigers' final scorer, was 15th in 24:30.
"Annabelle was placed in the hardest course and stepped up for the team," Roberts said. "Without her grit and effort in adverse conditions it may have not gone our way. She represented everything that makes XC a true team sport."
On the boys side, Selah claimed the team title with 33 points. Cedarcrest was second with 62, just two points ahead of the Tigers at 64.
In the day's most-crowded race, Ephrata junior Caleb Fitts placed second on the Race Course in a personal-best time of 15:52, eight seconds behind winner Asher Downey of Kennewick. Fitts cut 14 seconds off his previous best, the 16:06 he ran on the same course to place seventh at last fall's CWAC District Championships.
"Caleb continues to be our leader," Roberts said. "His time of 15:52 was a new personal best and placed him second in the biggest race of the day."
Freshman Seve Molitor was Ephrata's second scorer on the Race Course, finishing 16th in 17:30. Freshman Eli Leenhouts, whom Roberts singled out for an impressive race, placed 24th in 18:02.
On the Figure 8, sophomore Caleb Schooler placed sixth in a personal-best 16:49 and junior Mitchell Johnson earned a varsity finish with an 11th-place, personal best time of 17:33.
On the Orchard Loop, sophomore Louden Leenhouts placed 12th in 18:14 and senior Grant Adams was 17th in 19:06.
Next up, Ephrata travels to the Othello Golf Club course to face Selah and Othello at 4 p.m. this Thursday, Sept. 24.
"Selah always provides great competition," Roberts said. "Excited for the challenge."
After a quick recovery, the team travels to the Nike Bob Firman Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 26 at The Course in Spokane Valley.
"The Bob Firman Invite will provide a state-like atmosphere that will help our athletes later in the season," Roberts said.
Top Tiger finishers —
Girls:
Figure 8: Abigail Chamberlain* 18:59 (1st), Hannah Malone* 21:15 (9th), Harmony Keen 28:49 (50th).
Race Course: Savannah Harper* 19:35 (1st), Zoie Grubb* 21:06 (5th), Gracee Neff 24:11 (26th), Evangeline Springs 25:16 (39th), Paisley Graaff 29:08 (59th).
Orchard Loop: Rebecca Wiser* 21:07 (3rd), Annabelle Adams* 24:30 (15th).
Boys:
Figure 8: Caleb Schooler* 16:49 (6th), Mitchell Johnson* 17:33 (11th), Ryan Delgado 18:21 (20th).
Race Course: Caleb Fitts 15:52* (2nd), Seve Molitor* 17:30 (16th), Mike Jimenez 17:44 (19th), Eli Leenhouts 18:02 (24th), Sam Goldy 18:04 (25th).
Orchard Loop: Louden Leenhouts* 18:14 (12th), Grant Adams* 19:06 (17th), Nathan Wolther 19:19 (20th), Noah Goldy 20:04 (28th).
*Team scorer (top two per team on each course)