Four Tonasket cross country runners (left to right): Jake Hickman, Jessica Spear, Kyndra Dellinger and Damon Halvorsen qualified for the State Cross Country meet with their races at the District 6/7 Championships. Submitted by Elaina Halvorsen

WENATCHEE – With strong races at the District 6/7 Championship on Thursday, Oct. 28, four Tonasket Tigers qualified for the State Cross Country meet to be held at the Sun Willow Golf Course in Pasco on Saturday, Nov. 6.

Headed to state are juniors Kyndra Dellinger, Damon Halvorsen and Jake Hickman and senior Jessica Spear.

“Those four all ran awesome races to qualify for state in the toughest regional in the state,” Bob Thornton, head coach, said. “Their hardwork and dedication paid off and they get the reward of competing in the state championship race against the best runners in the state, of which they are now one of.”

For the boys, Halvorsen finished in fifth place with a time of 16:31.79 and Hickman finished in 12th place at 16:52.66. For the girls, Spear finished in 10th place with a time of 20:17.88 and Dellinger finished in 15th place at 20:35.53.

On the boys’ team, seniors Matt Gschiel, Enrique Ortega and Peter Williams also completed the race. Gschiel finished in 19th place with a time of 17:27.34, Ortega finished in 60th place with a time of 19:58.8 and Williams finished in 65th place at 20:32.81.

For the girls’ team, frehman Kathryn Cleman finished the race in 44th place at 22:43.67, junior Amy Johnson finished in 50th place at 23:04.4 and senior Michelle Carlson finished in 59th place at 25:03.56.

“Carlson, Johnson and Williams ran very courageous races,” Thornton said. “Running cross country is hard enough when you are feeling good but it is especially tough when you are sick or hurt and they came back from being sick or hurt to run very well. Gschiel ran his best race of the year, beating guys he never had before. He gave it all he had and I’m very pleased with how he ran. Cleman ran by far her best race of the year. The way she ran makes me excited for her not only for cross country next year but for track this spring as well. Ortega just kept getting better every race. I only wish he wasn’t a senior.”

On the state meet on Saturday, the girls’ race begins at 10:30 a.m. and the boys’ race begins at noon.