EPHRATA — The Ephrata Tigers cross country team sent six runners to the state tournament at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco. While the Tigers didn’t have enough runners to place as a team, Caleb Fitts, Niko Diaz, Maddax Iverson, Hannah Malone, Savannah Harper and Rebecca Wiser each found personal success in their final times. 

“I thought we represented really well,” said Tigers head coach Lyndsy Roberts. “We had a good plan in place and the athletes really raced well. It was a tough course and a really strong field of runners.” 

The Tiger boys and girls runners all had a pretty similar race as they all finished close together. The three boys started off the race going hard on the first mile, which Roberts said wasn’t necessarily part of the plan, but they stayed strong throughout and completed the course with solid times. 

The two sophomore boys were first to finish with Fitts running for a final time of 16:58.8 and Diaz running for 17:07.2. Iverson, the senior, making his fourth appearance at state, finished with a final time of 17:25.0. 

The girls’ side had very similar results, with all three finishing within seconds of each other. Malone, a junior for the Tigers, completed the course with a final time of 20:32.4. The two freshmen runners came in soon after, with Harper finishing with 20:35.1 and Wiser finishing with 20:38.1. 

“I think as a coach it’s rewarding to see the kids that put in the most work get rewarded an opportunity to race against kids from across the state that are doing similar things,” said Roberts.” “Kind of see the culture of what running’s about and go challenge themselves at the highest level.” 

He said now that the season has concluded, he is feeling very confident in the success of the program moving forward, as all three girls and the two sophomore boys who made state will all be returning to the team next year. The experience of making state will be something that will be a stepping stone for the returners to drive their next season. 

Looking back on the season, Roberts said there was some tough competition, as shown in state by how well represented teams from the Central Washington Athletic Conference were, with both Ellensburg and Selah making top-five finishes. While the Tigers had met many of their goals this season, the main goal moving forward will be to have more athletes qualify for state. 

“I think the program’s in a good spot,” he said. “We’ll be moving forward and have some high goals next year with a lot of the kids returning. It’s going to take a lot of work over the course of the spring, as a lot of them run track and then the summer as well.” 

The Tigers runners Fitts, Malone and Harper will have one final meet as they head out to compete in the Nike Cross Regional Championships this weekend in Spokane.  

“It’s not something I can officially coach, but definitely support them as they go and race one more time,” said Roberts. 

The Nike Cross Regional Championships will be held at the Spokane Polo Grounds at 10 a.m. Saturday. 

    Tigers sophomore Caleb Fitts pushes along during the state competition last weekend. Fitts finished the meet with a final time of 16:58.8.
  

    Niko Diaz, a sophomore for Ephrata, finished the course with a time of 17:07.2. Tigers Head Coach Lyndsy Roberts said the boys all pushed hard at the beginning of the race and kept up their momentum throughout.
  

    EHS senior Maddax Iverson runs across the grass during the state tournament where he finished with a final time of 17:25.0. This was Iverson’s fourth straight appearance at the state tournament.
  

    Hannah Malone (1702) and Savannah Harper (1701) run together during the state tournament. Malone finished with a time of 20:32.4 and Harper finished with 20:35.1.