Hazen senior Kate Lilly noticed something different in this year’s cross-country squad.
“I saw a lot more drive this year,” she said. “Everyone wanted to push each other to do something great.”
Contributed
Hazen High School freshman Shannon Gifford runs to a school-best time at the Class 3A state cross-country championship in Pasco Nov. 7.
The Highlanders put together a memorable season with both boys and girls teams qualifying for state. The girls were the clear standout, though, winning the Seamount League title for the first time in more than a decade.
“It was pretty fantastic,” Lilly said.
Running as an individual at last year’s Class 3A state championship in Pasco, Lilly knew what it was like to run alone, without her team surrounding her. It made a huge difference to have her teammates there warming up together, she said.
“Having the whole team there with me was just way more fun,” she said.
Lilly would go on to finish 44th overall with a time of 19 minutes, 50.3 seconds in her final state meet on Nov. 7.
It was a Hazen freshman, though, that sneaked her way onto the podium, earning 16th overall and setting a school record. Shannon Gifford finished the course in 19:02.3 — a Hazen girls’ best ever performance at state.
“She had the best race of her season,” Lilly said. “She always says she can’t kick at the end, but she kicked at the end, I saw it, and got that last spot on the podium.”
Freshman Keara Daley (80th, 20:31.6), junior Daniela Reyna (102nd, 21:07.7), senior Sarah Hart (127th, 21:56.9), freshman Rachel Dennis (129th, 21:59.9) and senior Cassandra Slaugh (139th, 23:23.3) rounded out the pack. The team finished 12th overall.
Hazen senior Dario Cirlincione was the boys’ top finisher at 91st overall. Cirlincione, Sam Holbrook, Drew Wilson, Graham Manson, Colby Campbell, Logan Dickman and Gorav Singh combined to finish 16th as a team.