VanDenTop stands alone on state podium for Whatcom County 1A girls cross country
Only one Whatcom County 1A girls cross country runner finished on the podium at the state championships Saturday in Pasco.
Ashlee VanDenTop of Meridian finished 14th with a time of 19 minutes, 29.6 seconds, her personal best. The next-closest Whatcom County athlete was Alyce Harlan of Nooksack Valley, who finished 17th.
Meridian coach Mike Holz said VanDenTop faded a bit near the end of her previous races, but she stepped up to the challenge Saturday.
“Her experience from track last spring worked out really well for her today,” Holz said.
VanDenTop battled throughout the race. She was 20th with a mile left and kept moving up, according to Holz.
Ten Pas, Berendsen finish LC cross country careers
Seniors Taylor Ten Pas and Brooke Berendsen ran the last race of their high school cross country careers.
Ten Pas finished 62nd, and Berendsen placed 97th. Coach Darren Postma said Ten Pas ran a smart race.
“She always does,” Postma said. “The last mile she really kicked it in, and it was a really solid race. She beat some of the runners in our league that she hasn’t beaten all year.”
Ashley Lingbloom (109) of Lynden Christian had a time of 22:27.3.
Class 1A girls state results
Runner | School | Time (Pl.) |
Ashlee VanDenTop | Meridian | 19:29.6 (14) |
Alyce Harlan | Nooksack Valley | 19:41.2 (17) |
Kaitlyn Stapp | Mount Baker | 20:47.5 (44) |
Dena Andrushenko | Meridian | 20:57.1 (47) |
Taylor Ten Pas | Lynden Christian | 21:10.5 (62) |
Brooke DeBeeld | Nooksack Valley | 21:12.0 (66) |
Kendyl Otter | Meridian | 21:21.7 (72) |
Michaela Yonkman | Nooksack Valley | 21:28.9 (79) |
Jazmine Gutierrez | Nooksack Valley | 21:37.5 (89) |
Rubi Stuit | Meridian | 21:38.6 (91) |
Makenna Holz | Meridian | 21:43.6 (94) |
Brooke Berendsen | Lynden Christian | 21:45.8 (97) |
Juliette Haggith | Mount Baker | 21:52.6 (99) |
Ashley Lingbloom | Lynden Christian | 22:27.3 (109) |
Stefania Dellai | Meridian | 22:45.7 (122) |
Kady Aamot | Meridian | 24:01.5 (145) |
Olivia Pears | Nooksack Valley | 25:28.7 (157) |
Madison Hem | Nooksack Valley | 25:37.9 (158) |
Jenna Tiemersma | Nooksack Valley | 27:06.7 (160) |
SOURCE: WIAA.com
This story was originally published November 5, 2016 at 9:15 PM with the headline "VanDenTop stands alone on state podium for Whatcom County 1A girls cross country."