Raider runner competes at state

It's gotta make a guy feel pretty appreciated when a send-off-to-state rally is held just for him, as it was for Caden Portch Friday.

Caden Portch running at the state cross country championships in Pasco Nov. 9. - Matthew Timentwa Photo

The Raider junior alone among his cross-country teammates qualified for the state meet at Pasco's Sun Willows golf course held Saturday.

So Lake Roosevelt saw him off Friday in the school's traditional style with an assembly, the "tunnel," and sirens and lights supplied by police and emergency services folks escorting him through town on the way out.

Portch ran the 5K in 17 minutes, 28.4 seconds to take 24th out of 144 runners in the 2B Boys race at the 2024 WIAA State XC Championships.

It was Portch's second year in a row to make it to state. At Friday's assembly, Head Coach Matthew Timentwa said Portch had "worked exceptionally hard this year to make it to state again," improving his qualifying time by 45 seconds at the district meet.

He didn't let up, either. On Saturday, Portch chopped 74.9 seconds off his 2023 time on the course.

Assistant Coach Ashley Atkins said Friday that Portch had "faced challenges with grace, pushed through adversity, and inspired those around you with your relentless determination" that "speaks to the kind of leader you have become.

"Leadership is not just about being at the front," she continued. "It's about lifting others up, motivating your teammates and showing them what is possible through your own actions."

Portch walking "the tunnel" in the Lake Roosevelt gym on the way to state Nov. 8. - Scott Hunter photo

Timentwa said he was proud of the Raider runners who "stuck it out this year. ... It's not the easiest thing in the world to do."

He said he hoped that next year "we'll have quite a few more runners up here to be able to participate with us and go to state."