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Camas’ Emma Jenkins defends district cross country title

By Micah Rice, Columbian Sports Editor
Published: October 18, 2017, 8:29pm
6 Photos
Camas senior Emma Jenkins crosses the finish line taking first in the girlís 4A district cross country championships, Wednesday October 18, 2017, at Lewisville Park in Battle Ground.
Camas senior Emma Jenkins crosses the finish line taking first in the girlís 4A district cross country championships, Wednesday October 18, 2017, at Lewisville Park in Battle Ground. (Ariane Kunze/The Columbian) Photo Gallery

BATTLE GROUND — Positivity is a priority for Emma Jenkins.

The Camas senior wants to end her high school cross country career with a flourish.

So Wednesday, Jenkins was feeling plenty good about her second consecutive 4A Greater St. Helens League district title.

Jenkins gradually pulled away from Skyview’s Ellen Burbank to win by 25 seconds. She covered the 5,000 meter course at Lewisville Park in 18 minutes, 38 seconds.

“Senior year, this is the last year to give it all I’ve got,” Jenkins said. “I’ve just been really positive this year, so that plays a big factor in it.”

Jenkins is nearing the end of a Camas career marked by quality and consistency. She finished seventh in state as a sophomore and fifth in state last year.

Her coach, Laurie Porter, says Jenkins is ready for a grand finale. Her times back that up — Jenkins has run faster than 18:20 three times this season, compared to once last year.

“This season, I see such dedication in her,” Porter said. “She trained really hard during the offseason. She was lifting weights in the offseason. She did everything she could to get ready for this season. It has really paid off.”

Camas won the district team title with 25 points by placing its top five runners in the top eight. Ellie Postma was fourth, Camryn Mock fifth, Madison Child sixth and Halle Jenkins eighth.

Jenkins has made a point to spread her positivity throughout the team.

“Before all the big races it’s definitely important for us to train really hard,” she said. “But also having fun with it is really important. The more fun we have, the better all of us do because it’s a more positive environment for all of us.”

Skyview placed second with 46 points, led by Burbank and Krystal Kaufman, who finished third.

Wednesday’s district meet begins a new phase of the season. After loading its schedule with highly competitive invitationals, Camas is now on its final approach to the state meet Nov. 4 in Pasco.

Camas has won four state titles and finished second twice in the past six years. One of those runner-up finishes was last year, something that motivates Jenkins this season.

“I think it has definitely been on our minds for a long time,” she said. “All of us are really looking forward to it.”

11 Photos
Camas’ Jackson Lyne (29), left, Skyview’s Bruce Erickson (60) and Camas’ Daniel Maton (30) race down trail at Lewisville Park in Battle Ground, Wednesday October 18, 2017, during the boy’s 4A district cross country championships.
4A District Cross Country Championships at Lewisville Park Photo Gallery

RELATED STORY: Future is now for Daniel Maton, Camas boys cross country

4A GSHL DISTRICT MEET
At Lewisville Park, 5,000 meters
Team scores – Camas 24, Skyview 46, Union 61, Battle Ground 114, Heritage 143.
CAMAS – 1, Emma Jenkins 18:38; 4, Ellie Postma 19:22; 5, Camryn Mock 19:31; 6, Madison Child 19:50; 8, Halle Jenkins 20:08.
SKYVIEW – 2, Ellen Burbank 19:03; 3, Krystal Kaufman 19:13; 10, Lexie Rutherford 20:37; 11, Presley Timmons 20:50; 20, Emily Hogan 21:56.
UNION – 7, Haylee Brodahl 19:51; 12, Serena Smith 20:55; 13, Callie Mills 21:00; 14, Brooklyn Jackson 21:04; Alex Taylor 21:08.
BATTLE GROUND – 19, Kendra Matson 21:42; 21, Katelynn Franklin 22:21; 23, Nova Gomulkiewicz 23:30; 25, Madeline McClellan 23:44; 26, Audrey Kanooth 24:00.
HERITAGE – 22, Bellora Robles 23:15; 27, Kaylee MacDonald 24:09; 29, Piper Lemon 24:24; 32, Jennifer Ferguson 25:08; 33, Christina Blinsman 26:31.

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