Both the boys and girls Inglemoor High School cross country teams placed in the top ten of the Bi-District Championship meet meet at South Whidbey High School on Saturday.
The girls team qualified for state by placing third overall with 104 points. It is the first girls team to qualify for state in 12 years from the school. A young boys team gained invaluable experience by finishing eighth overall as a team and narrowly missing the State meet. The team will return five of its top seven runners to the team next year.
Girls led by Rose
Inglemoor’s Amber Rose won her second consecutive District I/II title on Saturday in a time of 18-minutes, 11-seconds. She won by 15 seconds on a wet and slippery course. Her time on the South Whidbey Course was the fourth fastest in course history.
Rebecca Ledsham was 10th overall, qualifying as an individual, finishing in a personal best of 19:16.
“Our girls went out with a mission to qualify today and ran tough,” Inglemoor head coach Kelly Richards said. “I was particularly impressed with the efforts of our sophomore girls Rebecca Ledsham and Etta Moen. Senior Katie Diekema gutted through a tough race to lead our runners 3-6 which was a key factor in the team doing so well. This was truly a complete team effort.”
Inglemoor placed six girls in the top 34 runners. Members of the qualifying team include Rose, Ledsham, Diekema, Bailey Fjelstul, Moen, Rebecca Crawford, Anna Richards and alternates Ellee London and Casie Moe.
Two advance to state for boys team
The Inglemoor boys qualified two individuals for state with Nick Laccinole placing tenth overall and Gavin Parpart finishing 17th. This is Laccinole’s second concecutive trip to state as an individual and Parpart’s first time going to Pasco.
“I am extremely proud of how the boys went out and competed,” Richards said. “It was a tough field and race and they dug in and did their best. Ethan Karlinsey, Brayden Schultz and Wilson Turk are all new to this sport and they really stepped up today in difficult conditions. The future looks bright for this boys team. I am excited to see Nick and Gavin run next week at State.”
