Strong team effort propels Tiger XC at 'Battle for the 509'
SPOKANE — Ephrata runners enjoyed an excellent outing at the Spokane Polo Grounds on Saturday, Oct. 4 during the annual "Battle for the 509" cross country invitational meet, highlighted by a first-place finish from the Tigers boys in the Varsity Red division along with standout individual performances.
Caleb Fitts led the Tigers with a fourth-place individual finish in 17:05.40, setting a personal record for a 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) course. Coach Lyndsy Roberts said, “Caleb continues to lead our team in the right direction. He is setting a high standard for Ephrata XC.”
The boys’ team executed a strong strategy across the field, with Maddax Iverson (17:43.60), Cooper Black (17:50.90), Niko Diaz (17:51.10), Cale Fronsman (18:12.50), Louden Leenhouts (18:16.20), and Mitchell Johnson (18:47.80) all contributing to the Tigers' first-place divisional win.
Roberts praised their teamwork, saying, “Our boys' team is gaining big race experience and learning to run as a pack. The goal coming into the meet was to work together as a team and move up through the field. They executed a strong race plan and it was truly a complete team performance.”
On the Tiger girls’ side, Savannah Harper led the way with a ninth-place individual finish and a personal record of 19:58.30, joining a short list of Ephrata runners to break the 20-minute mark in the 5K. Roberts noted, “Savannah ran with strength and confidence. Really proud of her effort.”
The rest of the girls team included Hannah Malone (20:49.70), Rebecca Wiser (21:29.80), Sunnie Neff (24:13.50), and Annabelle Adams (24:31.60), all contributing to the Tigers’ strong team showing.
In the boys JV novice race, Roberts noted the effort of Ryan Tempel, who finished fifth in 21:58. “Really proud of Ryan," said the Tiger coach. "His dedication and work ethic were on full display. Exciting to see kids who work hard get rewarded.”
The "Battle for the 509" title refers to the eastern Washington telephone area code and the region's proud running tradition.
With strong individual efforts and team-style racing, said Roberts, Ephrata cross country keeps building momentum as the season progresses. The Tigers return to Apple Ridge in Yakima this Thursday, Oct. 9, at 4 p.m. for their second league meet, taking on host Selah and Toppenish.