In the girls 3A/2A/1A division, Lindsey Brown of Pine Eagle won the race with a time of 19:10.80, while Enterprise won the team title with 35 points.
By ANNIE FOWLER, The CUJ
PENDLETON — Nixyáawii sophomore Sun Schimmel and Weston-McEwen sophomore Arden Shaul each earned a trip to the 2A/1A state cross-country championships after finishing in the top seven Friday at the Special District 3 District Championships at Community Park.
Schimmel turned in a personal best time of 17 minutes, 40 seconds to finish seventh and grab the last individual berth to state. He was 10th with 100 meters to go, then poured it on to pass Imbler’s Adam Gordon (17:40.80).
“We are very, very excited,” Nixyáawii coach Weyekin Wildbill said. “He had to fight for that spot to go to state. That Imbler kid is pretty fast. It says a lot that he was able to squeeze past him. It was amazing to watch.”
Schimmel is just the second Golden Eagle to qualify for state. His older brother, Saint Schimmel, went in 2020 during the makeshift COVID sports season.
“Sun definitely earned his spot to qualify for state,” Wildbill said. “His work ethic is relentless and he is very coachable. It’s a goal he has had all season. It’s nice to see him persevere through that mental barrier.”
Union’s Nathanael O’Reilly won the race with a time of 16:55.70, two seconds ahead of teammate Ian Garlitz. The Bobcats also won the team title with 19 points. Stanfield/Echo was second (68), and Nixyáawii was third (168).
“I am super proud of the boys,” Wildbill said. “We have five seniors on our varsity seven and they stepped up. It’s the first time we have ever been in the top five.”
There will be a couple of wildcard berths to state, and the Golden Eagles are hoping the state committee offers them one.
“I will be waiting until Sunday to see if we squeeze in there,” Wildbill said. “That would be so awesome. They would be the first in school history.”
Also scoring for the Golden Eagles were Sacas Wildbill, who was 22nd with a PR of 18:49.30, Noah Piercen (28th, 19:22.90), Wyatt Withers (37th, 20:12.60), and Weptas Brockie (61st, 21:42.80).
Shaul placed fifth with a time of 17:21.50, just three-tenths of a second behind Heppner’s Jake Wilson (17:21.20).
Shaul also will be making his first trip to state.
Also running for the TigerScots were Tristan Weseman (24th, 18:57.60), Aidan Aldrich (72nd, 25:16.50), and Jose Barahona (73rd, 25:16.50).
Pilot Rock, which finished eighth (197) in the team scoring, was led by Carter Ford (26th, 19:13.60), followed by Lewis Hansen (57th, 21:28), Ayden Hoeft (58th, 21:31.60), Landon Norton (67th, 23:58.90), and Elisha Sanchez (71st, 25:15.20).
In the girls 3A/2A/1A division, Lindsey Brown of Pine Eagle won the race with a time of 19:10.80, while Enterprise won the team title with 35 points.
Weston-McEwen’s Alethea Bond was the top local finisher, placing 33rd with a time of 23:46.50. Also running for the TigerScots was Brynn Brownie (55th, 26:09).
Pilot Rock freshman Hailey Severe placed 48th with a time of 25:15.60. For Nixyáawii, Rosaella Salt was the first Golden Eagle across the finish line, coming in 51st with a time of 25:21.60. Joining Salt on the course were Ciicyle Thompson (62nd, 27:20.10), and Ayanna Star (78th, 30:47.50).
