By Pierre LaBossiere
Peninsula Daily News
PORT ANGELES — There’s more than the Port Angeles girls team to watch for at the state cross-country championship meets to be held Saturday at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco.There’s several outstanding runners from Sequim, Port Townsend and Forks that are likely to place at state.
The Wolves’ boys team has four runners going to state, led by Murray Bingham, who won four races this year, including the Olympic League championship. Murray finished a solid third at the Westside Classic 2A district race, improving on his ninth-place finish from the year before.
Joining Murray will be teammates Jazen Bartee and Liam Byrne.
Sequim freshman Riley Pyeatt could make some noise in the girls’ race, too. Pyeatt won two races this year, placed in the top 5 in 10 races and finished fourth at district.
The Roughriders will have a packed bus going to Pasco. The entire Port Angeles boys’ team, which finished fourth as a team, will be joining the Roughrider girls’ team at state. The Riders are led by Cameron Butler, who finished 12th at district and Thomas Shaw, who finished 19th. Other Riders in the state race are Thomas Shaw, Gabriel Long, Adam Borde, Joshua Gavin, Logan Tyson, Naaman McGuffey, Lucas Gavin and Aj Fischer.
Port Townsend is sending five runners to state. A Chimacum runner who competed with the Port Townsend team much of the year, Rachel Matthes, also qualified for state after finishing seventh at district.
Redhawk Nathan Cantrell won five races this year and finished second at the 1A district meet. He came in a solid 24th last year at state and will be looking to place even higher this year. Joining Cantrell are Gabe Petrick, who finished fifth at district, Kincaid Gould and Seamus Fraser as the Redhawks placed four runners in the top 12 at district and finished third as a team.
Port Townsend’s Annika Avelino also qualified for the 1A state race by finishing 10th at district in the girl’s race.
Forks will send two boys — Colton Duncan and Wesley Camacho — and one girl, Madelyn Archibald, who finished 10th at district.
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Sports Editor Pierre LaBossiere can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or plabossiere@peninsuladailynews.com.
