Fort Vancouver’s girls cross country team made school history Tuesday, capturing its first league championship in a three-team race at Kelso’s Tam O’Shanter Park.
Led by five runners placing in the top 6, the Trappers defeated Kelso and Evergreen behind senior Emily Phelps’ winning time of 18 minutes, 8 seconds on the 2.9-mile course.
Three years after what began as a struggle to get a full team of runners is now at more than 20 runners and boosting a league title to boot for four-year varsity runners such as Phelps and Harrison.
That made Tuesday’s league title even more special.
“It’s really huge to have gone from where we started three years ago to where we are now,” Phelps said. “We have a lot of girls now who are confident and want to reach our goals and that’s really valuable.”
One of those goals also includes state, which Fort has never qualified for as a team. Phelps and Harrison believe 2018 could be the year so after reaching regionals in 2017.
Phelps and Harrison began recruiting within their school to attract runners to cross country. They continue to do so, and while the accomplishment of a league title is what they strive for, they’re also looking beyond for the program’s future.
“It shows that we can start this thing,” Harrison said, “and we want to keep it going.”
Harrison finished second Tuesday in 19:18 and Dhamar Campos, Shelby Willett and Khonnie Ecklund placed 4-5-6 to help the Trappers to 18 points.
Stars of the day
• Cade Bringhurst, Ridgefield boys golf, shot an even-par 37 at Tri-Mountain for medalist honors as the Spudders beat Woodland 156-197 to win the 2A GSHL title.
• Jarrett Christenson, Hockinson boys golf, shot a 1-over 33 at Cedars for medalist honors in the Hawks’ 145-189 win over Washougal.
• Katie Nelson, La Center girls soccer, scored two goals as the Wildcats beat Seton Catholic 4-1 in the Trico League opener.
• Savannah Harshbarger, Prairie girls soccer, scored a goal and assisted two others to help the Falcons to a 7-0 win over Fort Vancouver.
• Kate Rosebourrough, King’s Way girls soccer, scored two goals in the Knights’ 4-1 win over Columbia-White Salmon.
• Keiana Bonawitz, Mountain View volleyball, had 18 assists, 16 digs, two aces and a kill in a sweep of Hudson’s Bay.
• Maddie Kemp, Camas girls soccer, scored three goals in a 4-0 win over Heritage to open league play.
• Megan Stangel, Hockinson girls soccer, scored both goals in a 2-1 victory over R.A. Long.
• Olivia Fothergill, Mountain View girls soccer, logged a hat trick in a 4-0 win over Evergreen.
