Ephrata Tigers Apple Ridge Run Invite: Girls Win, Boys Take Third
The short version
- Ephrata girls won the 20-school meet with 34 points, three ahead of Hanford; the boys tied Hanford at 64 for third.
- Abigail Chamberlain (18:59, Figure 8) and Savannah Harper (19:35, Race Course) won individual titles, with Harper notching her first career win.
- Caleb Fitts ran a personal-best 15:52 for second as Ephrata took the Race Course team title with 79 points.
- Othello's girls and boys both placed 10th; Quincy's girls were 19th and the boys 14th.
- Ephrata and Othello race Selah at Othello Golf Course Thursday at 4:45 p.m.; Ephrata runs the Nike Bob Firman Invitational Saturday at 8:45 a.m.
Ephrata's girls finished three points clear of Hanford to win the 20-school meet, and the boys tied Hanford at 64 to take third on Saturday.
Girls win team title, boys finish third
The Ephrata Tigers Apple Ridge Run Invite weekend ended with both Ephrata squads on the podium Saturday, as the girls placed first among 20 schools and the boys took third. The girls totaled 34 points to finish three clear of Hanford. The boys ended level with Hanford at 64 points, a tie that secured third place overall.
Head coach Lyndsy Roberts praised the group's effort at the early-season meet, saying the girls attacked the race, held their ground against the field, and showed they will be worth following this season. The coach also described the team victory as significant progress for the program.
Three courses, six scorers per team
The meet broke from standard cross country scoring by splitting runners across three courses, with two athletes counting on each one for six scorers instead of the usual five. The Figure 8 was flat and built for speed. The Race Course covered the district layout twice, with one substantial hill on each lap, while the Orchard Loop ranked as the hardest test thanks to a long climb just past the two-mile mark.
Individual titles for Chamberlain and Harper
Senior Abigail Chamberlain led the Ephrata girls on the Figure 8, winning in 18:59, with senior Hannah Malone ninth in 21:15. Roberts said it was rewarding to watch Chamberlain race again after a difficult junior year, crediting her persistence and commitment to the team and expressing excitement about what lies ahead for her this season.
Junior Savannah Harper delivered the other individual win, taking the Race Course in 19:35 with freshman Zoie Grubb next across at 21:06. Roberts said the junior raced with confidence and stayed mentally strong in a competitive field. It was the first individual victory of her career, a mark the coach noted is hard to reach in any race, let alone a large invitational.
Fitts and Schooler pace the boys
Sophomore Caleb Schooler opened the day for the boys with a seventh-place run of 16:49 on the Figure 8, and junior Mitchell Johnson followed in 11th at 17:33. Junior Caleb Fitts then posted a personal best of 15:52 for second in the Race Course, the biggest race of the day, with freshman Steve Molitor 16th in 17:30. Ephrata won the Race Course team title with 79 points, and Roberts described Fitts as the squad's leader.
On the Orchard Loop, junior Rebecca Wiser took third for the girls in 21:07 and sophomore Annabelle Adams was 15th in 24:30. Sophomore Louden Leenhouts placed 12th for the boys and senior Grant Adams 17th in 19:06.
Othello and Quincy results, week ahead
The Othello Huskies placed 10th in both team standings, with the girls scoring 193 points and the boys 240. Freshman Bradley Miranda Lopez ran 19:36 and sophomore Naomi Sanchez 28:59 on the Figure 8, while junior Betsy Policarpio took eighth in 21:46 and senior Carlos De la Cruz eighth in 16:46 on the Race Course.
The Quincy Jackrabbits finished 19th in the girls standings with 293 points and 14th in the boys standings with 424. Senior Jonaz Rodriguez placed fifth on the Race Course in 16:33, and junior Aliah Corona finished at 26:11.
Ephrata and Othello both face Selah at the Othello Golf Course on Thursday at 4:45 p.m., while Quincy runs at Grandview High School at the same time. Ephrata then heads to the Nike Bob Firman Invitational, with racing starting Saturday at 8:45 a.m. Roberts said Selah always brings strong competition and that the Bob Firman meet should provide a state-meet atmosphere that will help the Tigers later in the season.
