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Camas runners slog it out with nation’s best at Nike Cross Nationals

By Micah Rice, Columbian Sports Editor
Published: December 6, 2014, 12:00am

PORTLAND – Standing an inch deep in mud and neck-deep in talent, the Camas High School runners let their playful side show.

Emma Jenkins, Brooke Roy and Gabrielle Postma had just finished the most prestigious cross country race of their budding high school careers.

How did they celebrate? By trying to smear the brown goop caked to their race shoes onto each other’s legs.

That moment Saturday at the Nike Cross Nationals epitomized the combination of talent and youth that is the Camas girls cross country team.

The Class 4A state champions qualified for Saturday’s race by winning the Nike Cross Northwest regional Nov. 15 in Boise.

With those credentials, it’s easy to forget that five of the seven Camas runners are freshmen.

Yet Saturday on a muddy Glendoveer Golf Course, the Papermakers slogged it out with many of the nation’s best prep runners for 5,000 meters.

Jenkins, a freshman, was the fastest Camas finisher. She placed 54th in 18 minutes, 45 seconds.

“We’ve never done anything like this before,” Jenkins said. “We all feel the same way about it, so we talk each other through. The older girls always say ‘turn your nervous energy into positive excitement.'”

Alissa Pudlitzke, the senior leader of the young flock, finished one second behind Jenkins in 57th place.

Pudlitzke has the experience to know how prestigious Saturday’s race was. Many top high school runners qualify for either the Nike Cross Nationals or the Foot Locker championships in California to test themselves against the nation’s best.

“The caliber of athletes here is amazing,” Pudlitzke said. “It’s such an honor to be a part of this race and bring my team with me.”

Allie Ostrander won in 17:19. The senior from Kenai, Alaska owns the year’s fastest 5K time among high school athletes (16:40).

Camas runner Alexa Efraimson, who turned pro last summer, won last year’s Nike Cross Nationals at Portland Meadows.

Freshman Emily Wilson finished third among Camas runners (94th place, 19:09). Rounding out the team were Kaylee Merritt (20:04), Madison Woodson (20:25), Brooke Roy (20:33) and Gabrielle Postma (21:04).

Roy said the magnitude of Saturday’s race was new but not overwhelming.

“It’s kind of hard that we have no experience and a lot of others do,” the freshman said. “But we have fresh legs. I think we were ready.”

Postma credited Pudlitzke and junior Madison Woodson for bringing the five varsity freshmen up to speed.

“They’re always helping us and encouraging us,” she said. “It’s great to look up to them.”

Pudlitzke, who will run for Boise State next year, says the future of Camas running will be bright for a long time.

“I’m going to miss them so much next year, but I’m so excited to see what more they can accomplish,” she said. “They’ve worked so hard this season, so I can just imagine what they can do next season.”

Camas finished 13th among 22 teams. Fayetteville-Manlius of Syracuse, N.Y., won by placing five runners in the top 20.

North Spokane’s Tanner Anderson won the boys race in 15:11. No Clark County runners took part in that event.

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