Chase Marchand: Chasing the finish line

A Raider had the best time in the state for 1.5-mile races, the ninth best in the nation.

Lake Roosevelt's eighth-grade cross country runner, the aptly named Chase Marchand, had an impressive year, putting up the best finish time in the state for 1.5-mile races, the ninth best in the United States, when he ran in Omak Oct. 9, finishing in 7 minutes, 55.3 seconds.

Marchand had six first-place finishes throughout the season, one second place, and two thirds.

Some of his other first places include finishing first in a 1.4-mile race in Tonasket Oct. 3 in 7:50; finishing a 1.5-mile race in Okanogan in 7:58; and finishing a 2,500-meter race in Manson Sept. 14 in 8:40.5.

His mother, Tauni Marchand, said she "wanted to share in his success this season and congratulate him overall for an amazing season."

Marchand finished third in the North Central Washington Middle School League Cross Country Championships at Liberty Bell Oct. 26 with a time of 8:29.