Cross country kicks off youth filled season at Eastmont

Race first for many runners on the team

EASTMONT — The Moses Lake High School cross country team started their season Saturday with a meet against Wenatchee, Eastmont and Omak. The boy's team finished third overall with a score of 61 while the girls also finished third with a score of 70.

For a lot of athletes on the team it was their first meet ever.

"We have a young team this year," head coach Jennifer Carpenter said. "We have a lot of sophomores who have never raced before and freshman."

Carpenter will have to race more than a few of them at the Varsity level.

Her outlook on the season remains the same as in years past. She wants to build good character in the athletes and make sure their times are improving throughout the year.

For the 2005 season she admits that this is the youngest team she has ever had to coach but says she is excited about the future of her freshmen and sophomore runners.

Leading the boy's and girl's teams this year as team captains are senior Kraig Grant, junior Kaleb Hoffer, senior Chris Forrest, senior Mariah Hernandez and sophmore Kayde Williamson.

Grant ran in regionals each of the past three years and needs to shave about one minute off his time in the three mile to be eligible for state.

"Shaving one minute off his time is possible," Carpenter said.

He is the best hopeful from the cross country team to earn a berth to state, she said.

Carpenter will look for two freshmen to contribute this year on the boy's varsity squad. They are Jeff Marsh and Aristotles Santiago. Carpenter forsees Marsh as a top five runner for the boys and that once Santiago heals a knee injury he will also compete at the Varsity level this year.

"Marsh has raw talent," Carpenter said. "Santiago ran all summer, both him and Jeff (Marsh), I see him as varsity caliber if I can get him healthy."

On the girls team Carpenter expects Vanessa Hernandez to compete as one of the teams top varsity runners as a freshman.

Carpenter will not run the same freshmen in each varsity event this year. For each runner on the girl's team the meet was their first race ever at the high school level.

"We have a very competitive league," Carpenter said. "The most competitive league in the state."

Carpenter thinks this is a year of development. She is especially looking forward to the invite Moses Lake is hosting Saturday.

It is coupled with the teams other home event on Tuesday.

Carpenter also looks forward to the Great Pumpkin Race held each year the day after districts.

It is an event for elementary school aged children and Carpenter describes it as a way of giving back to the community.