KELSO — There’s a reason why Kelso High School continues to be a runner-favorite venue for 3A District cross country.
The spectator-friendly 2.95-mile course allows for multiple viewing sites, not to mention the on-going tradition of Kelso’s band playing various tunes throughout the races. Even Kelso’s football team, preparing to host Mountain View Friday in a battle of league unbeatens, had mid-practice breaks to cheer on runners behind Schroeder Field.
“It’s a great environment to run in,” Fort Vancouver senior Emily Phelps said, “and how you’re supported by other students, even if it’s not your own school. It’s good to have that support for running.”
Phelps won the girls race in 18 minutes, 3.30 seconds Thursday ending what she started as a freshman: a 3A District champion. Phelps bested defending champion Meri Dunford of Prairie (18:32.50) and Mountain View’s Jasmine Bates (third, 18:48.90), who was the leader at the 1.5 mile mark.
Teammate Anna Harrison was fourth (19:15.20).
Depth on both sides helped Prairie win the boys and girls team titles. Prairie’s girls team had five of its runners place in the top 10 (Dunford, Andrea Ceruna-Herraiz, Alysia Fraley, Sally Anderson, Mary McLeod, and the boys had three runners (Luke Lund, Landon Gunter, Isaac Moulton) in the top 6.
Spectators lining different parts of the course, plus music from the band made Thursday an extra fun-filled day for runners like Harrison, who helped the Trappers qualified for regionals as a team by placing second. The top four teams and 28 individuals advance to next Saturday’s Westside Classic at Chambers Bay Golf Course near Tacoma.
“When there’s people cheering,” Harrison said, “I tend to run faster, but the music with the beat gets you going.”
As picture perfect as the weather was Thursday, it also was an eventful race for boys champion Shun Yamaguchi of Mountain View. Not only did he win his first district title in 15:29.40, he gathered himself after taking a fall on the dike near the first mile marker. Despite that, he said, he felt strong re-joining the pack and eventually taking the lead for good.
The quartet of Yamaguchi, Prairie’s Luke Lund, Kelso’s Colten Jorgensen and Fort Vancouver’s Drew Weber were the lead pack for most of the race.
“Those guys were still hanging on,” Yamaguchi said, showing scabs and dirt on his elbows and knees post-race. “I knew they were going to be there for most of the race.”
And they were once back on the track for the final 300 meters, too. Once crossing the finish line, Yamaguchi turned back to see how far back second-place finisher — Jorgensen, of Kelso — was. Lund, the defending champion, finished third (15:40.80). Weber was fourth (16:19.80).
Given the race Yamaguchi’s raced all season, he’s peeking at the right time, he said, and is looking ahead to what he believes will be an eventual two weeks starting at next weekend’s regional race.
“I have a goal in mind I want to hit,” Yamaguchi said. “Even if it might be a tough course, I know I’m just going to fly through.”
