Raiders boys take second at meet

Lake Roosevelt's boys' cross country team finished second in the Central Washington B League Championship race at Liberty Bell High School last Saturday, putting themselves in good position for the district-wide meet.

"All our runners worked very hard to compete and ran very strong races," Head Coach Gary Darnold said.

The Raider boys took home second place with the score of 62 points. Liberty Bell was first with only 18 points, LR was 11 points ahead of third-place Bridgeport who scored 73 points.

The Raider boys were led by Ray Yazzie, who took ninth overall with his time of 19 minutes, 28 seconds. Robert George came in 14th overall in 20:58. Brandon Desautel was next across the line with the time of 21:06 for 15th overall and a season-best time.

Jerry Palmer was the fourth Raider across the finish line for 17th overall in 21:26, a career personal best at 5,000 meters. Daniel Campobasso was the fifth Raider and 24th overall across the finish line at 23:06. Will Friedlander finished 27th at 23:34, a career PR for 5,000 meters. Zach Erickson finished 31st overall in 26:24.

LR girls ran in a field consisting of only 13 runners. LR had four travel to Liberty Bell and began the race. One had to leave the race due to health issues.

Ashley Palmer took second overall and first for the team in 22:09, her career PR at 5,000 meters. Alexia Hanway came in third overall in 24:39. Clare Castrodale was ninth overall in 28:27.

"We had three girls place in the top 10, and our boys' team placed second," Darnold noted, but the district meet "will add another set of schools from District 5 south of us. They (the team) are looking forward to the competition."

To prepare for the race, the Raiders will ease up at the end of the week to heal injuries and be fresh for the district race.

This year, District 5-6 will send three boys' teams to the state meet, while only one girls' squad will move on.

Four boys' teams competed at the league meet, but none of the schools present could form a girls' team. That means the LR girls will go on as individuals, Darnold said, and the top five move on to state.

Darnold said he is proud of his squad's efforts.

"Our runners have worked hard knowing they all have an opportunity to earn a trip to state," the coach said.

The District 5-6 cross country race is this Saturday in Wenatchee at Walla Walla Point Park, next to the Town Toyota Center. The Central Washington B League schools will be joined by Yakama Tribal, Bickleton, John Crawford, and Lyle/Wishram from District 5. Races start at 1 p.m.