Some runners enjoy that the terrain presented on most cross-country courses requires a mental and physical endurance to succeed.
Just do not include Kent-Meridian High senior Olivia Baerny among them.
“I like the finish,” said Baerny, who placed 14th in 19 minutes, 57.8 seconds during Saturday’s Class 4A Westside Classic at American Lake Veterans Golf Course in Lakewood. “That’s my favorite part. It’s just everything you have left.”
The top 56 placers in both the boys and girls runs advance to Saturday’s state championships at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco. Camas’ Emma Jenkins placed first at the Westside Classic in 18:34.7.
Baerny, who qualified for state for the fourth consecutive year, said she was surprised by her performance because she had not run well on the course in the past.
“I’m not the most positive during the race because cross country is hard,” Baerny said. “It’s hard for me to stay in the race mentally. A lot of times I’m running and I don’t realize how well I’m doing.”
Baerny said she wants to focus on maintaining “pace” as she prepares for state because she typically struggles during the second lap.
And she has plenty of motivation to do well. Baerny hopes to qualify for Border Clash, which is a showcase of top high school runners in Oregon and Washington in November at Nike’s World Headquarters in Beaverton, Ore.
“It would be really cool to make it to Border Clash this year,” Baerny said. “I just have to stay positive.”
Other state qualifiers from Kent schools include Kentwood’s Nicole Soleim, who placed 16th in 20:06.2, and Kent-Merdian’s Allison Baerny – Oliva Baerny’s sister – who took 18th place in 20:08.4.
On the boys side, the top local placer was Kentridge junior Fanuel Weldeselassie, who was 13th in 16:58.8. Camas’ Yacine Guermali placed first in 15:51.8.
“I don’t really run well on this course, but I had motivation to do well and make it to state,” Weldeselassie said.
He won’t be alone there, either. Because the Chargers placed in the top eight as a team – they were fifth with 195 points – they will be able to send all of their varsity runners to state. Camas won the team title with 68 points.
Three other Kentridge runners – seniors Wobi Torujo (17:08.3, 24th place), Brock O’Neal (17:31.7, 53rd) and Maamoon Saleh (17:33.5, 55th) – qualified for state based on their individual placements. But Weldeselassie also is happy the rest of the team will be at state.
“I love it,” he said. “They work really hard, too. There’s great camaraderie.”
Weldeselassie said his goal for state is to eclipse his personal-best time, which is 16:22.4. That came Oct. 22 during the North Puget Sound League 4A meet at Fort Steilacoom Park in Lakewood.
Others advancing to state from Kent schools include Kentlake’s Hezekiah Goodwin (17:15.5, 34th) and Kentwood’s Harsimran Singh (17:19.5, 40th).
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