Royal's Kay Lester and Rudy Flores turn in strong performances at cross country state championships

PASCO — Royal senior Kay Lester came through the gate into the staging area after finishing 22nd in 19 minutes, 45.90 seconds in the Class 1A girls race at the WIAA state cross country championships Saturday at Sun Willow Golf Course.

She found a place tucked away from the chaos of it all at the far end and hunkered down, head bowed as she collected herself. A lot of people would have been pleased with 22nd overall in the 152-runner field, but the 5-foot-7 Royal City standout went into the meet with the big dreams of making it to the podium.

“I knew I’d put in the work. I worked hard in the summer, during the season, then I get here and I don’t place. That was the most disappointing part,” said Lester, who intends to run in college. “I put it on the line, I know that. As far as I know, I PR’ed on this course, but I’m not satisfied.

“My goal was to place in my last race. I’ve been around long enough to where I know a lot of the girls that placed here today and I really wanted to be there. But I’ll come back with a vengeance for track.”

Lester came through the loop at the bottom of the course a few seconds off the lead pack as Alyce Harlan (Nooksack Valley), Macenna Hansen (Northwest) and Lizzy Shaw (Riverside) pushed the pace back up the hill.

“My race strategy was to go out hard and stay with the front-runners. I felt really strong in my pre-race warm up. I felt really good and confident,” Lester said. “By the two-mile, I felt great mentally, but physically I could feel it going.

“The lead group picked up the pace a lot at the second-mile marker and I didn’t go with them. I know now I should have gone with ‘em.”

Royal’s Rudy Flores (16:55.90) placed 35th in the 156-runner 1A boys race.

“My goal was to get in with the second group and stay with them,” Flores said. “Today was perfect weather. It was cool and I was ready to run. I didn’t get the goal I wanted, but I ran well today.”

1A girls: 22. Kay Lester, Royal, 19:45.90; 74. Alma Velasco, Wahluke, 21:05.70; 82. Abigail Delay, Royal, 21:13.50; 117. Jessica Arellano, Wahluke, 22:09.50; 119. Sydney Gilbert, Royal, 22:19.00; 120.

Abigail Wood, Royal, 22:19.30; 130. Briza Mendoza, Wahluke, 22:39.40; 134; Amanda Justo, 22:46.30; 141. Sydney Burke, Royal, 23:15.4; 142. Isabel Quiroz, Royal, 23.31.70.

1A boys: 35. Rudy Flores, Royal, 16:55.90; 42. Yerik Arellano, Wahluke, 17:02.40; 113. Tanu Buck, Wahluke, 18:00.50; 121. Joaquin Meza, 18:05.90