Tonasket sophomore Damon Halvorsen finishing the two mile mark of the state cross country meet with a time of 10:55 and in 15th place. Halvorsen went on to finish the course in 16th place with a time of 17:17. Submitted by Bob Thornton

PASCO – Tonasket sophomore Damon Halvorsen finished the state cross country meet at Sun Willows Golf Course in 16th place with a time of 17:17.

“At the state meet, Damon was to go out with the lead group, which made him nervous to try to go with them at this big of a meet,” Bob Thornton, head coach, said. “A group of four took the lead and then a small gap and then another group that included Damon. Damon came through the first mile in 5:07, a little fast since his best mile time in track is 5:01, but was in 20th place. He stayed strong and continued to work his way through the pack he was with coming through the two mile mark in 10:55 and was in 15th place.”

Thornton said the pack broke up but Halvorsen continued to run will and at 2.5 miles, he was in 13th place and held that until the final kick.

“He collapsed at the finish line in 16th place in a time of 17:17,” Thornton said. “He finished only two seconds behind 12th place and was the fourth sophomore in state only 20 seconds behind the first sophomore.”

Halvorsen’s time was a 35 second personal record. The top 16 finishers received medals, including Halvorsen.

“My coach and I went over the times of the other people and how my times have been improving,” Halvorsen said. “I set a goal to finish in that area and I did, so I’m happy.”

“He was hurting after the race but by now I’m sure he has decided it was worth it,” Thornton said.

“It was worth it because I gave it all I had and I felt really good in a funny way,” Halvorsen said. “My legs were really tired and I didn’t have a lot of energy, but it was worth it.”