Bellingham’s Reiss, Sehome’s Johnson could battle for individual title

A handful of talented Whatcom County cross country runners have qualified for the 2015 State Championships on Saturday, Nov. 7, at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco.

While Sehome will be trying to sweep both the boys’ and girls’ titles for the fourth straight year, girls’ runners such as Bellingham’s Annika Reiss, Sehome’s Abby Johnson and Nooksack Valley’s Amy Jo Murphy have a chance to bring home individual titles.

Here are some athletes to watch in advance of the state championships.

Three boys’ runners to watch

Riley Allsop, sr.

Sehome

Allsop has helped Sehome win state championships each of the past two seasons. He finished 24th in the state meet as a sophomore with a time of 16 minutes, 30.52 seconds, and then improved the next year with a 17th-place finish with a run of 16:20.22. Allsop owns the seventh-best 5,000 meter run in Class 2A this fall, and the senior will undoubtedly be looking to end his illustrious career with a top-10 finish.

Roberto Aguilera, sr.

Ferndale

Aguilera is back in the Class 3A State Championship Meet for the third consecutive year, and the senior is looking for a top-10 finish of his own. He took 69th with a time of 16 minutes, 53.55 seconds his sophomore year, and then saw a huge improvement the following season, taking 19th at state with a run of 15:58.15. Aguilera has a 15:43 personal record this fall, and that could be strong enough for a podium spot.

Eric Steiger, so.

Lynden Christian

Steiger before this season was somewhat of an unknown to Whatcom County cross country, but he has made a name for himself with massive improvements from his freshman to sophomore year. He finished fourth during the Class 2A District Meet last week with a time of 17 minutes, 14.47 seconds, qualifying for his first Class 1A State Championship Meet. Steiger has a legitimate shot to finish in the top five.

Three girls’ runners to watch

Annika Reiss, fr.

Bellingham

Meet the next great Whatcom County cross country runner. The Bellingham freshman has won a handful of races this year, including the Northwest Conference Championships and established herself the top runner in District 1 last week, winning a district title with a run of 19:54.40 seconds. She owns the top 5,000-meter time in Class 2A, and she could add a state championship to her previous accolades.

Abby Johnson, jr.

Sehome

If Reiss doesn’t win a state title, there’s a good chance Johnson does. The Mariners’ junior was under Sehome great Emily Pittis’ tutelage last season and had a great season, helping the Mariners win a state title while taking ninth at the Class 2A State Championship Meet with a time of 19 minutes, 23.09 seconds. Johnson placed second at the district meet and has improved greatly from a season ago.

Amy Jo Murphy, sr.

Nooksack Valley

Murphy will run in the Class 1A State Championship Meet for the fourth straight time, and this year she’ll be eying a state championship. Murphy finished fourth during last year’s state title run with a time of 19 minutes, 15.51 seconds, and she won a district title last weekend with a time of 19:11.56. Each year Murphy has improved, and she’ll be hoping to end her career with the best race she’s ever ran.

This story was originally published November 6, 2015 at 6:12 PM with the headline "Bellingham’s Reiss, Sehome’s Johnson could battle for individual title."