Santiago tops among Moses Lake runners at 4A regional meet

by Neil Pierson<br>Herald Sports Editor
| October 30, 2007 9:00 PM

SPOKANE - Ari Santiago took the top spot among Moses Lake's boys as the Chiefs finished 11th at the 15-team 4A regional cross country championships at Wandermere Golf Course on Saturday.

Santiago, a junior, covered the hilly, 3.1-mile course in 16 minutes, 57 seconds to place 34th out of 105 runners. He was 66 seconds off the pace set by regional champion Jayson Taylor of Central Valley. Santiago improved his regional position from 92nd in 2006.

Moses Lake senior Nick McAlavy finished out his high school career with a 49th-place time of 17:15. The Chiefs' top runner for most of the year, junior Jeff Marsh, took 56th in 17:22 and senior Daniel Jenkins was 57th in 17:32.

"Jeff Marsh was next to Ari until he fell in the last mile and dropped several places," Chiefs head coach Jen Carpenter said via e-mail. "Our top five just were not close enough at districts or regionals to be highly competitive. Overall we are pleased with the season and the great improvements we have seen on the team."

Moses Lake's varsity seven was rounded out by senior Steffen Klepsch (89th in 18:20), sophomore Ben Daschel (91st in 18:28) and senior Skyler Hoffer (92nd in 18:29).

Mead was the regional champion with 62 points, 21 better than runner-up Eisenhower. The top five individuals included Mead's Kelly Lynch, Ferris's Adam Thorne, Shadle Park's Daniel Renz and Emmanuel Contreras of Davis.

In the girls' race, junior Kristin Budiselich was Moses Lake's top finisher, 47th in 20:57. Junior Amy Cromer was 91st in 23:31 and junior Danielle Holle was 94th in 24:27.

"Kristin improved from last year tremendously. Last year she was 83rd compared to 47th this year," Carpenter said. "Once again we did not run a complete team, but we plan on making sure we have some girls that can run next year."

Shadle Park sophomore Andrea Nelson was the girls' regional winner in 17:51. Central Valley won the team title with 82 points, edging second-place Richland by three points.

Sandra Martinez of Davis, Mead's Baylee Mires, Pasco's Janette Rodriguez, and Central Valley's Eden Lake rounded out the top five.