Coupeville’s Catherine Lhamon is off to the state cross country meet next weekend. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
Catherine Lhamon’s fleet feet are carrying her to Pasco.
The Coupeville High School junior qualified for the 1A state cross country meet with her performance Saturday at the District 1 meet.
Running at South Whidbey High School, Lhamon claimed 31st place with a season-best time on the 5,000 meter course, making the cut for state by four slots.
Wolf freshman Mitchell Hall just missed out on joining her, falling six places shy of qualifying.
Lhamon, who’s the first Wolf harrier to make it to the big dance since Danny Conlisk in 2017, will run Saturday, Nov. 9 at the Sun Willows Golf Course.
Conlisk trained and traveled with South Whidbey, as Coupeville’s once very-successful cross country program lay dormant for two decades.
It was revived in 2018, and the number of runners has tripled in season two.
To make the cut for state, Lhamon listened to Wolf coach Luke Samford, who laid out a plan in which she would surge down the stretch.
“She ran exactly like coach told her to,” said mom Helene Lhamon. “She was 50th or so at the mile and I thought she was hopelessly off pace – but she passed 20 people in the next 1.5 miles.
“I was counting runners, not expecting her yet, when she flew by – and I went running after her with my cowbell cheering — she held in there for the last half mile – and no injuries!!!!”
Coupeville finished 12th in the girls standings and 14th in the boys race.
King’s girls and South Whidbey’s boys won the team crowns, while Naomi Smith of King’s and Isaac Cortes of Granite Falls captured individual titles.
The outlook is bright for the Wolves, as all 12 runners who competed at districts are underclassmen, with two juniors, one sophomore, and nine freshmen on the roster.
Complete Saturday results:
GIRLS:
Catherine Lhamon (31st) 22:02.96
Claire Mayne (57th) 23:36.42
Alana Mihill (60th) 23:49.67
Helen Strelow (74th) 24:59.77
Cristina McGrath (80th) 25:51.43
BOYS:
Mitchell Hall (34th) 18:27.08
Aidan Wilson (69th) 19:50.24
Sam Wynn (81st) 20:33.95
Cameron Epp (85th) 20:44.12
Reiley Araceley (89th) 21:00.39
Alexander Wasik (96th) 21:38.96
Aiden Anderson (98th) 21:50.99
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