MOSES LAKE — Fourteen-year-old Hannah Marsh is quickly establishing her name in the Moses Lake athletic arena after being the first female to compete at the state level in cross county in 22 years.

“I’ve never ran before,” she said about long distance running.

It was the first time she’s tried and she soon learned it is what she was made for.

In middle school she tried track for one season. Marsh said she ran short distance races and wasn’t very good at it.

Now she has found the endurance to compete at state at the Sun Rivers Golf Course in Pasco on Nov. 7. She placed 75th out of 150 runners.

“Each week she was getting stronger and stronger,” said Coach Loren Childers. “Every week it seems she was getting better.”

At the beginning of the season she was running three mile races in the 24 minute range, Marsh explained. Now she runs three miles just under 20 minutes and her one-mile time is roughly 5 minutes and 50 seconds.

Running long distances is hard on the mind but she keeps herself motivated while she is running toward the finish line.

“You have to believe,” she said. “You have to have confidence. Every time you get tired you just think it would be easy to quit.”

It can get especially discouraging when other runners are passing by in a race.

“Pass them,” Marsh said she thinks to herself. “Don’t stop. Don’t look behind you. You have to keep going.”

Her race time at the state competition was 20 minutes and one second.

“I think I’m going to puke,” she recalled thinking when she crossed the finish line.

Marsh said she was happy it was finally over.

Now she’s set some promising goals for herself.

She wants to go to state each year of her high school career. She wants to place among the top 30 runners at state next year but thinks placing in the top 16 would be even better because they win ribbons.

In her off time, Marsh is preparing herself to meet her goals. She will continue to run and in the spring she will run long distance track. During the summer, she will continue to run.

She explained when cross country season comes again next year she will be preparing herself with a strict and healthy diet. She does not drink soda, eat candy or other certain sugars. Marsh sticks to healthy foods including sandwiches and granola and eats small meals before races to keep her energy level high.

It’s not all training and healthy food though, Marsh loves the sport.

One of the best parts is going to meets and being around all the competitors and her team. She’s met a lot of people and made several new friends.

During their award ceremony at the end of the season, Marsh was voted Rookie of the Year and lettered in her sport. She also made second team All-Conference.

The All-Conference team is comprised of the best runners in the region. Being on the second team reflects her position at the top ranking somewhere between 15 and 30.

Childers said Marsh is an impressive runner with a bright future, noting she managed to shorten her race times by about three minutes throughout the season.