Thursday, March 28, 2024

Cascade Cross Country team qualifies three runners for state

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With mostly young runners on both his girls and boys teams, Cascade Head Coach Dayle Massey knew the odds for long for a team championship at the Caribou Trail League District Meet on Oct. 25 at Walla Walla Point Park in Wenatchee. 

Sure enough, both the boys and girls teams finished last. Last year, the girls were the team champs. Cashmere was the team champion for both boys and girls. The good news is that three Cascade runners made state as individuals. You see, both team champions go to state along with the top 14 individual runners. 

“Our teams did not do well. That was not unexpected. We did not have five strong runners for the boys or girls. Our goal was to have good races and get as many PRs and individuals to state as possible, which we did a good job,” said Dayle Massey, Cascade head coach. “I was pretty sure we would get Landon (Davies) and Zoe (McDevitt.) They had great races. They did really well. 

The freshman Davies almost won the boys race. He had the lead going into the finish but was passed at the end by Evan Gambill of Cashmere. His time was 17:08. 

“For just freshman, that is pretty amazing to be almost league champion. He ended up in second, which is great,” Massey said. 

McDevitt placed sixth overall with a time of 20:49, which was a PR by about 15 seconds. 

“She started off behind, about 16th or 17th place. I was getting worried but she was just biding time,” Massey said. 

Massey also hoping seniors Gabe Wulfman and Caleb Payne would make it. Both had outside shots. Wulfman did not have a good day, but Payne had an amazing day, PRing by a lot. 

“He has been training super hard and was really motivated to go for it. Really pushed himself the whole race and ended up in 12th place. He made the cut. That was really fun to see him get in there,” Massey said. 

Qualifying a both freshman boy and girl for state is rare. 

“Especially freshman boys as individuals. You get faster every year, especially with boys. Girls mature earlier. I was looking at the statistics. A lot of freshman girls do make it. It’s hard for freshman boys. Landon didn’t just make it, he almost won league,” Massey said. “We’re looking for big things from him as the years go on. That was a great accomplishment.”

The state meet is Saturday at the Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco. Massey doesn’t think Davies has a legit shot at winning, not as a freshman. There are just too many fast runners. 

“Looking at the times and there’s only one freshman with a faster time than him and that was on a faster course. It would be really cool to be the fastest freshman in 1A,” Massey said. 

Massey expects McDevitt to get some good experience racing against the other freshmen.

“We know there are some fast freshman in our league that beat her. Our goal is have her keep up with the other freshman. As she gets older, she’ll get faster,” Massey said. 

For the senior Payne, Massey hopes he has a good race, another PR and just has a good experience on the state course. 

“It’s a nice end to his high school cross country career,” he said of Payne. 

Ian Dunn can be reached at 548-5286 or editor@leavenworthecho.com.

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