Tigers close season with a state team trophy and four medalists
The Lady Tigers brought home Ephrata’s first girls cross country trophy in nearly 30 years. Caleb Fitts and Abigail Chamberlain medaled at state, as did Unified race partners Sunnie Neff and Zane Sieg.
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Members of the Ephrata girls cross country team with the four trophies they won in 2026, at the program’s awards night. The fourth-place trophy from the state meet is the program’s first in girls cross country since the 1997 state title. Back row, from left: Sunnie Neff, Savannah Harper, Annabelle Adams, Paisley Graaff, Evangeline Springs, Zoie Grubb, Eden Morris. Front row: Gracee Neff, Rebecca Wiser, Abigail Chamberlain, Hannah Malone. Photo by JoElle Malone
PASCO — The Lady Tigers brought home Ephrata’s first girls cross country trophy since their 1997 state title, placing fourth Saturday at the WIAA 2A championships at Sun Willows Golf Course. The Tiger boys finished sixth.
Junior Caleb Fitts took seventh in the boys race in 16:06.4, earning a spot on the individual podium. Senior Abigail Chamberlain finished ninth in the girls race in 19:06.3. Both earned medals, which go to the top 16 finishers.
Tiger head coach Lyndsy Roberts said a strong performance at the state meet by Chamberlain and Fitts had been their goal since this summer.
"We knew if they ran to their ability and stayed injury-free throughout the season they would be exactly where they needed to be when it came to this race," Roberts said.
Chamberlain ran the last race of her Ephrata career. She finished just 2.2 seconds off her fastest 5,000 meters of the season and moved up 10 places from her seed.
"The state 5K course is a very challenging course, both physically and mentally," Roberts said. "The athletes rarely find any flat areas on this course. Instead it is constantly rolling with some significant hills along the way."
"For Abby it was a perfect ending to her time as a Tiger XC runner," Roberts said. "She will leave a mark as one of the best Tiger XC runners Ephrata has ever had."
Chamberlain plans to run in college, Roberts said, and is in talks with several schools.
Fitts came into the state meet seeded 11th, but finished four spots up in seventh — a week after taking 12th at districts.
"The seventh-place finish was a great moment, especially to respond after a difficult district race," Roberts said. "But his result also sets a stage for things to come. With another year left, the sky's the limit. He will return next year as one of the top 2A runners and it will be a season to watch."
Sehome swept the first four places in the girls race, led by Kjirsten Ludeman in 17:54.3, and won the team title with 22 points. The Lady Tigers were fourth with 126, behind Bellingham’s 80 and Ellensburg’s 112. Selah was seventh with 219.
Behind Chamberlain, the Tigers' four other scoring runners were junior Savannah Harper, 24th individually in 20:07.6; freshman Zoie Grubb 30th in 20:27.4, junior Rebecca Wiser 44th in 20:56.4 and senior Hannah Malone 49th with a season-best time of 21:00.4. Freshman Eden Morris took 112th in a personal-best 22:41.5 and freshman Gracee Neff 119th in 22:57.3 in a field of 151 runners.
North Central of Spokane won the boys title with 54 points, and Ephrata finished sixth with 179. Ellensburg was second with 103 and Selah fifth with 149, giving the CWAC three of the top six teams. Bainbridge’s Ryan Dodge won the boys race in 15:27.7.
After Fitts, Tiger junior Niko Diaz was 25th with a personal-best of 16:45.1, sophomore Caleb Schooler 59th in 17:16.4, freshman Seve Molitor 73rd in 17:25.8 and sophomore Louden Leenhouts 108th in 17:55.7.
Rounding out the squad, junior Mitchell Johnson was 127th in 18:11.9 and freshman Mike Jimenez 146th in 18:47.1 among 158 finishers.
Also representing Ephrata at state, seniors Sunnie Neff and Zane Sieg placed seventh in the Coed Unified race, giving the Tigers four medalists overall at the meet. The 2-mile run is hosted by the WIAA in partnership with Special Olympics Washington. Each team of one boy and one girl runner is scored on the pair's average time. Ephrata averaged 15:01.0, half a second behind sixth-place Shorewood. Mead won in 13:40.4.
"This is a relatively new division for state and it was great for Ephrata to be represented," Roberts said. "Sunnie and Zane have been a part of our program for quite a few years and to give them an opportunity to run at state and have that experience was special."
During their regular season, the Lady Tigers won the Apple Ridge Run Invitational and the Neon Nights meet at Selah. Both teams finished second in the CWAC standings with 7-1 meet records.
Eleven Tigers were named to the Central Washington Athletic Conference all-league teams. Abigail Chamberlain, Savannah Harper and Zoie Grubb made the first team for the girls, with Rebecca Wiser and Hannah Malone on the second team.
Ephrata’s girls won four trophies during the 2026 season: champions at the Apple Ridge Run Invitational and the Neon Nights meet at Selah, fourth at the WIAA 2A state championships and second in the Gold Division at the Yakima Sunfair Invitational.
Caleb Fitts and Niko Diaz were first-team selections for the boys, Seve Molitor and Caleb Schooler second team, and Louden Leenhouts and Mitchell Johnson honorable mention. For his efforts in guiding the EHS squads, Roberts was named CWAC Coach of the Year for both teams.
Roberts said the season is best understood as a months-long progression.
"Without the summer running, I'm not sure we have a strong-enough mileage base to be successful early in the season," he said. "Without team camp, we wouldn't have the instant team culture that was positive for our entire team. Without the inevitable early struggles and tough workouts, we wouldn't have made as much growth."
"All the practices, all the races, team dinners, everything — it's all important and needs to be a part of the process," said Roberts. "I'm just grateful to have a group of athletes that have bought in and run for each other. Every day, every time."
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Tigers close season with a state team trophy and four medalists
The Lady Tigers brought home Ephrata’s first girls cross country trophy in nearly 30 years. Caleb Fitts and Abigail Chamberlain medaled at state, as did Unified race partners Sunnie Neff and Zane Sieg.
PASCO — The Lady Tigers brought home Ephrata’s first girls cross country trophy since their 1997 state title, placing fourth Saturday at the WIAA 2A championships at Sun Willows Golf Course. The Tiger boys finished sixth.
Junior Caleb Fitts took seventh in the boys race in 16:06.4, earning a spot on the individual podium. Senior Abigail Chamberlain finished ninth in the girls race in 19:06.3. Both earned medals, which go to the top 16 finishers.
Tiger head coach Lyndsy Roberts said a strong performance at the state meet by Chamberlain and Fitts had been their goal since this summer.
"We knew if they ran to their ability and stayed injury-free throughout the season they would be exactly where they needed to be when it came to this race," Roberts said.
Chamberlain ran the last race of her Ephrata career. She finished just 2.2 seconds off her fastest 5,000 meters of the season and moved up 10 places from her seed.
"The state 5K course is a very challenging course, both physically and mentally," Roberts said. "The athletes rarely find any flat areas on this course. Instead it is constantly rolling with some significant hills along the way."
"For Abby it was a perfect ending to her time as a Tiger XC runner," Roberts said. "She will leave a mark as one of the best Tiger XC runners Ephrata has ever had."
Chamberlain plans to run in college, Roberts said, and is in talks with several schools.
Fitts came into the state meet seeded 11th, but finished four spots up in seventh — a week after taking 12th at districts.
"The seventh-place finish was a great moment, especially to respond after a difficult district race," Roberts said. "But his result also sets a stage for things to come. With another year left, the sky's the limit. He will return next year as one of the top 2A runners and it will be a season to watch."
Sehome swept the first four places in the girls race, led by Kjirsten Ludeman in 17:54.3, and won the team title with 22 points. The Lady Tigers were fourth with 126, behind Bellingham’s 80 and Ellensburg’s 112. Selah was seventh with 219.
Behind Chamberlain, the Tigers' four other scoring runners were junior Savannah Harper, 24th individually in 20:07.6; freshman Zoie Grubb 30th in 20:27.4, junior Rebecca Wiser 44th in 20:56.4 and senior Hannah Malone 49th with a season-best time of 21:00.4. Freshman Eden Morris took 112th in a personal-best 22:41.5 and freshman Gracee Neff 119th in 22:57.3 in a field of 151 runners.
North Central of Spokane won the boys title with 54 points, and Ephrata finished sixth with 179. Ellensburg was second with 103 and Selah fifth with 149, giving the CWAC three of the top six teams. Bainbridge’s Ryan Dodge won the boys race in 15:27.7.
After Fitts, Tiger junior Niko Diaz was 25th with a personal-best of 16:45.1, sophomore Caleb Schooler 59th in 17:16.4, freshman Seve Molitor 73rd in 17:25.8 and sophomore Louden Leenhouts 108th in 17:55.7.
Rounding out the squad, junior Mitchell Johnson was 127th in 18:11.9 and freshman Mike Jimenez 146th in 18:47.1 among 158 finishers.
Also representing Ephrata at state, seniors Sunnie Neff and Zane Sieg placed seventh in the Coed Unified race, giving the Tigers four medalists overall at the meet. The 2-mile run is hosted by the WIAA in partnership with Special Olympics Washington. Each team of one boy and one girl runner is scored on the pair's average time. Ephrata averaged 15:01.0, half a second behind sixth-place Shorewood. Mead won in 13:40.4.
"This is a relatively new division for state and it was great for Ephrata to be represented," Roberts said. "Sunnie and Zane have been a part of our program for quite a few years and to give them an opportunity to run at state and have that experience was special."
During their regular season, the Lady Tigers won the Apple Ridge Run Invitational and the Neon Nights meet at Selah. Both teams finished second in the CWAC standings with 7-1 meet records.
Eleven Tigers were named to the Central Washington Athletic Conference all-league teams. Abigail Chamberlain, Savannah Harper and Zoie Grubb made the first team for the girls, with Rebecca Wiser and Hannah Malone on the second team.
Caleb Fitts and Niko Diaz were first-team selections for the boys, Seve Molitor and Caleb Schooler second team, and Louden Leenhouts and Mitchell Johnson honorable mention. For his efforts in guiding the EHS squads, Roberts was named CWAC Coach of the Year for both teams.
Roberts said the season is best understood as a months-long progression.
"Without the summer running, I'm not sure we have a strong-enough mileage base to be successful early in the season," he said. "Without team camp, we wouldn't have the instant team culture that was positive for our entire team. Without the inevitable early struggles and tough workouts, we wouldn't have made as much growth."
"All the practices, all the races, team dinners, everything — it's all important and needs to be a part of the process," said Roberts. "I'm just grateful to have a group of athletes that have bought in and run for each other. Every day, every time."
Ephrata results:
Girls, 5,000 meters (fourth, 126 points; Sehome 22, Bellingham 80, Ellensburg 112): 9. Abigail Chamberlain 19:06.3; 24. Savannah Harper 20:07.6; 30. Zoie Grubb 20:27.4; 44. Rebecca Wiser 20:56.4; 49. Hannah Malone 21:00.4; 112. Eden Morris 22:41.5; 119. Gracee Neff 22:57.3.
Boys, 5,000 meters (sixth, 179 points; North Central 54, Ellensburg 103, Bellingham 116, Sehome 117, Selah 149): 7. Caleb Fitts 16:06.4; 25. Niko Diaz 16:45.1; 59. Caleb Schooler 17:16.4; 73. Seve Molitor 17:25.8; 108. Louden Leenhouts 17:55.7; 127. Mitchell Johnson 18:11.9; 146. Mike Jimenez 18:47.1.
Coed Unified, 2 miles: 7. Sunnie Neff and Zane Sieg, 15:01.0 average.