Blaine freshman Eleeshiyah Faulkner qualified for the state cross country meet with her performance at the district championship on October 27 at South Whidbey High School.
Faulkner finished the 5K course in 21 minutes, 20.89 seconds, placing her 23rd out of 82 athletes.
“That’s a tough course and she took four minutes off her time from earlier in the season,” said Blaine head coach Gabe Bolton.
Her teammate, junior Taylee McCormick, missed qualifying for state by “about 100 yards,” Bolton said, crossing the line in 21 minutes, 49.96 seconds.
In the boys’ race, sophomore Malachi Crump finished first in 18 minutes, 27.86 seconds, for 57th place out of 91 runners. Freshman Connor Hettinga finished in 19 minutes, 18.17 seconds.
The district championship marks the end of the season for everyone but Faulkner.
“The kids went through thick and thin – hard practices, easy practices, tough meets,” Bolton said. “Even though they frequently were beaten at meets they never let it get them down. It was a real pleasure to be able to coach these kids.”
At state, Faulkner will focus on some personal goals, including beating a few girls who finished ahead of her at the district championship, Bolton said.
The state championship is on Saturday, November 3, at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco.
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