The steeper the hill, the more it suits Gabriel Dinnel.
This season, the senior hopes to lift the Washougal boys cross country team to heights it has never seen.
Dinnel finished 14th at the Class 2A state cross country championships last year in Pasco. Six of seven Panthers who ran in that race are back, including five seniors.
It’s a group that has Washougal aiming to top its best state finish of fifth place in 1983.
“We’ve been waiting for this season for many years,” coach Terry Howard said. “Ever since they were in eighth grade, we knew this class would be special.”
With this season in mind, it has been a busy summer for Washougal’s runners.
But Dinnel took a trail less-traveled. In June, he went to Italy as a member of the United States Mountain Running under-18 national team.
Dinnel was among four Americans to compete in the 13th annual International Youth Cup, which included runners from 15 nations. The 4.3-kilometer loop course above Lanzada, near the Swiss border, included 950 feet of ascent and descent.
Though Dinnel struggled with cramps and finished 48th out of 50 runners, the race was an unforgettable experience.
“Getting to see all these people from other countries and getting to compete against them was so cool,” he said. “It was just so intense. You weren’t even there for yourself, you were there on behalf of the U.S.A.”
Dinnel discovered his talent for running hills before his sophomore season. During a 5-kilometer uphill race at a running camp in Oregon’s Steens Mountains, he dusted runners who had beaten him during the cross country season.
Why do hills, which some runners dread, suit Dinnel so well?
“It’s more about grit and who can gut it out the most,” he said.
Dinnel enjoys setting out from his home in the hills above Washougal and seeing where the trails take him. He has covered many of the trails on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge.
The longer distances and variety of terrain are reasons he enjoys cross country so much.
“The distance for me personally just suits me better,” he said. “It’s a different race style. It’s different from track and I like it that way.”
Dinnel set the Washougal school record for freshmen when he clocked 16 minutes, 37 seconds at Nike Portland XC at Portland Meadows.
Dinnel placed 19th in state as a sophomore. As a junior, he ran a personal-best of 15:56 to finish second at the district championships.
To cap his high school career, Dinnel hopes to finish in the top five at this year’s state meet.
But even better would be leading his team to a high finish. Seniors Troy Prince-Butterfield, Koy Chaston, Ian Palmer and Warren Henderson join sophomore Jonathan Wells as returners from last year’s state meet.
“I think it’s going to be great to finish what we started a couple years ago,” Dinnel said. “We’ve all been putting in the miles and putting in the work. It’s going to be really cool to see everything pay off and hopefully do well at the state level.”
Season Storylines to Watch
Maton on a Mission: Last year, Daniel Maton of Camas was edged out at the finish line of the state meet by one step. Now a senior and a four-time track state champ, Maton has the 4A title in his cross-hairs.
Oct. 18 District Meet: 4A runners compete at Lewisville Park near Battle Ground.
Oct. 25 1A-2A Districts: Small-school runners gather at Woodland with state berths on line.
Oct. 27 Westside Classic: Top 3A-4A from state’s western half gather at University Place.
Nov. 3 State Meet: Champs for all classifications will be crowned at WIAA state meet in Pasco.
