Jimenez brothers lead Royal to state title

by Neil Pierson<br>Herald Sports Editor
| November 6, 2007 8:00 PM

Freshman Ethan Tonnemaker also a key for Knights' cross country championship

PASCO - After dominating their South Central Athletic Conference brethren the entire season, Royal High School seniors Humberto Jimenez and Rigoberto Jimenez weren't about to let the state's best cross country runners do any better.

The Jimenez brothers led the pack at Saturday's 1A state cross country championships at Sun Willows Golf Course, with Humberto edging Rigoberto for the individual championship. Both finished with times of 16 minutes, 18 seconds - 20 seconds better than their nearest competitor, Lakeside-Nine Mile Falls senior Kyle Johnson.

Just as importantly, the brothers led the Knights to the team championship. Behind a 10th-place effort of 17:21 from freshman Ethan Tonnemaker, Royal scored 70 points to edge second-place Lakeside (74).

Royal's seven-runner team also consisted of senior Rodrigo Montoya (35th in 18:18), senior Luke Tonnemaker (38th in 18:20), sophomore Roy Angel (53rd in 18:35), and senior David Floren (94th in 19:26).

Warden senior Marty Gardinier was the only other Columbia Basin boy in the 1A race - he turned in a time of 19:34, good for 103rd place.

Team results are listed below:

1. Royal, 70 points. 2. Lakeside-Nine Mile Falls, 74. 3. Charles Wright Academy, 107. 4. Nooksack Valley, 130. 5. Onalaska, 172. 6. Lynden Christian, 180. 7. Bush School, 235. 8. Bellevue Christian, 238. 9. Freeman, 248. 10. Newport, 252. 11. LaCenter, 280. 12. Chewelah, 281. 13. Kiona-Benton, 284. 14. University Prep, 294. 15. Zillah, 332. 16. Forks, 407.

Top 8 individuals: 1. Humberto Jimenez, Royal, 16:18. 2. Rigoberto Jimenez, Royal, 16:18. 3. Kyle Johnson, Lakeside, 16:38. 4. Tim Welch, Lakeside, 16:56. 5. Cameron Robertson, Kiona-Benton, 16:59. 6. Joey Ward, Newport, 17:07. 7. Jose Marcial, Kiona-Benton, 17:15. 8. Seth Pierson, Cashmere, 17:16.

2A girls

Ephrata High School's girls were the other Columbia Basin squad to qualify for state. The Lady Tigers scored 218 points to finish eighth and earn a medal. Sehome won the state title with 79 points.

Freshman Danielle Friend capped a tremendous season with a 14th-place finish of 19:58, 1:19 off the pace set by state champion Ruby Roberts of Kingston. Friend's stepsister, senior Brandi Eloff, ended her high school career with a 23rd-place mark of 20:38.

Ephrata's other competitors included freshman Kendall Hintz (54th in 21:32), freshman Ann Slininger (105th in 23:17), senior Katie Neff (112th in 23:50), freshman Claire Hanberg (136th in 26:32) and freshman Kellie Bracht (137th in 27:48).

Quincy High School qualified two individuals for state - senior Whitlee Young ran a 30th-place time of 21:02 and senior Rachel Heikkila was 91st in 22:39.

Team results: 1. Sehome, 79 points. 2. Bellingham, 91. 3. West Valley-Spokane, 130. 4. Riverside-Chattaroy, 146. 5. South Whidbey, 149. 6. Deer Park, 154. 7. Cedarcrest, 210. 8. Ephrata, 218. 9. Sequim, 233. 10. Ellensburg, 284. 11. River Ridge, 290. 12. W.F. West, 294. 13. Fife, 297. 14. Washougal, 310. 15. Kingston, 343. 16. Aberdeen, 374.

Top 8 individuals: 1. Ruby Roberts, Kingston, 18:39. 2. Annie Moore, Sehome, 19:11. 3. Shannon Porter, Hockinson, 19:13. 4. Caroline Austin, W.F. West, 19:21. 5. Torin Shriver, Centralia, 19:32. 6. Marki Creger-Zier, Steilacoom, 19:32. 7. Becca Friday, Bellingham, 19:39. 8. Amanda Wilson, Riverside-Chattaroy, 19:48.

1A girls

Royal qualified two individuals in senior Lydia McCubbins and junior Cara Wieldraayer. McCubbins finished 44th overall in 21:58, while Wieldraayer took 55th in 22:25.

King's High School of Seattle won the 1A team title, paced by junior Olivia Thomas, who was individual winner in 19:16.

Team results: 1. King's, 70 points. 2. LaCenter, 89. 3. Meridian, 152. 4. Bush School, 154. 5. Lakeside-Nine Mile Falls, 161. 6. Lynden Christian, 183. 7. Nooksack Valley, 206. 8. Chelan, 208. 9. Omak, 245. 10. Zillah, 261. 11. Onalaska, 274. 12. University Prep, 280. 13. Highland, 280. 14. Freeman, 310. 15. Rainier, 357. 16. Kiona-Benton, 406.

Top 8 individuals: 1. Olivia Thomas, King's, 19:16. 2. Chanda Romney, Forks, 19:52. Molly Billingham, Bush School, 19:53. 4. Michelle Steiger, Lynden Christian, 20:02. 5. Kaitlynn Pecha, Omak, 20:03. 6. Kristen Schoenherr, Rainier, 20:07. 7. Madeline Hess-Maple, Charles Wright Academy, 20:18. 8. Kayloni Jones, Lakeside-Nine Mile Falls, 20:20.

1B/2B boys

The Odessa Tigers didn't qualify as a team, but senior Matt Cronrath and junior Scott Strang both ran strong races. Cronrath was the state champion in the combined race of 1B and 2B runners, covering the course in 16:40, while Strang finished fifth in 17:37.

Team results: 1. Saint George's, 31 points. 2. Northwest Christian-Lacey, 73. 3. Seattle Lutheran, 83. 4. Reardan, 91. 5. White Pass, 123. 6. St. John-Endicott, 127. 7. Bear Creek School, 162. 8. Tri-Cities Prep, 198.

Top 8 individuals: 1. Matt Cronrath, Odessa, 16:40. 2. Jeff Pope, Valley Christian, 16:42. 3. Herschel Sanchey, Klickitat-Lyle-Wishram, 17:07. 4. Brian Angove, Saint George's, 17:13. 5. Scott Strang, Odessa, 17:37. 6. Nathan Perry, White Pass, 17:38. 7. Micah Cushman, Northwest Christian-Lacey, 17:45. 8. Sam Annan, Saint George's, 17:47.