Runners on right pace

by John R. McNeil II

The LR cross country team’s effort was “right on pace with what it needs to be,” last Saturday at Moses Lake, Head Coach Gary Darnold said.

The Raiders may not have placed well in the 40-school field featuring many from the 2A, 3A, and 4A ranks, but the teams did well in Darnold’s eyes.

“They all worked hard during the race and the boys’ varsity grouping was very good,” Darnold said. “We just need to move the group up.”

For the Raiders, last week's practices were not the best due to the smoke from fires. Darnold had the team practice within safe limits last week, but says this week “will have an intense workout schedule … to get caught up with what we missed last week.”

Leading the boys’ varsity was Brandon Desautel, who finished 99th with a time of 20 minutes, 31 seconds. Taking first for the girls’ varsity was Alexia Hanway, who finished 89th in 27:21. Rickyna Sam finished right behind Hanway in 27:23, placing 90th.

Darnold was impressed with the duo of Hanway/Sam.

“Rickyna and Alexia had very good first races of the season, working well off each other,” he said.

For the Raider runners, this week’s race in the Spokane Valley will be a chance to showcase their abilities on an important stage. The race is the “Runners Soul Erik Anderson Cross Country Invitational” at the Plantes Ferry Sports Complex. The field will be as large as Moses Lake and will again feature many larger schools. The high school races start at 12:30 p.m.

Complete results for the Moses Lake Invite at Athletic.net at

http://ow.ly/dOeEs

Raider boys’ results

5,000 Meters

Frosh/Soph Junior Varsity x

17 King Robinson 19:38 9 95 Oscar Pakootas 23:04 10 108 Robert George 23:33 9 123 Zach Erickson 24:38:00 10

5,000 Meters Junior/Senior

Junior Varsity x

96 Lucas Beneditti 28:53:00 12

5,000 Meters Varsity x

99 Brandon Desautel 20:31 11 108 AJ Stanger 20:57 12 110 Lukas Hermetz 21:07 9 115 Kendall Piccolo 21:45 12 123 Brandin Smith 22:50 11 127 Daniel Loch 24:10:00 10

Raider girls’ results x

5,000 Meters Varsity x

89 Alexia Hanway 27:21:00 11 90 Rickyna Sam 27:23:00 12 103 Keya Fasthorse 29:42:00 11 106 Amanda Palmer 30:56:00 12 107 Clare Castrodale 31:06:00 12 108 Charli Knight 31:45:00 12