After fighting through a pack of 42 other runners for three muddy miles, the Wenatchee High School boys cross country team took second place at the District meet, qualifying for State on Nov. 8. The girls took fourth place and didn’t qualify for State as a team.

Senior Cole Christman won the meet with a time of 15 minutes, 36.20 seconds, with senior Austen Lane took second, crossing the finish line 12 seconds later with a time of 15:48.20.

Qualifying for State came as a surprise for senior Raquel Thody, who placed eighth with a time of 19:53.91. This will be Thody’s third year competing at State.

“I didn’t feel too great near the end and thought I didn’t qualify [for State] so when I crossed the finish line, I was confused why my coach was happy,” senior Raquel Thody said.

Aside from Christman and Lane, senior Justin Pringle, senior Garrett Britt, junior Carson Dillard, sophomore Moses Lurbur, and senior Drake Lewis qualified to go to State with junior Jorden Hunsaker and junior Ethan Knutson qualifying as alternates.

“I felt pretty good about my race. It was my first time PRing,” Knutson said. Knuston hopes going to State can give him the opportunity to do better in track this upcoming spring and PR’d at Districts with a time of 17:06.45.

“I went to State last year as an alternate, and hope I don’t get last or second to last [this year],” Lewis said.  His goal was to make it to State.

“I am excited to see what these Panthers will accomplish next Saturday… anything is possible,” Head Coach Susan Valdez said.