The outstanding class of 2019, featuring Joe Waskom, Daniel Maton, Luke Houser, and Riley McDowell, left a legacy unlike any other. But, the class of 2020 is about to bring another exciting year of cross country at the 4A level much like we saw last season. Let's meet the top 4A boys to watch for this cross country season.
Jonas Price - Eisenhower
Jonas Price is the top returning 4A runner coming in with a personal best time of 15:05.9. The Eisenhower senior ran 15:17.1 to take second at the state cross meet behind Mount Si's Waskom. Price won two invites and three conference races in his junior cross season. During track, Price was fourth in the 1,600 and third in the 3,200 at the state meet where he ran personal best times of 4:10.22 and 8:57.65. He was also ranked in the top 10 for the 800 with a personal best time of 1:55.83. An elite athlete with a senior season to look forward to, Price is my pick to win this years cross state individual title.
Wil Smith - Lewis & Clark
What appeared to be a disappointing end to a great track season, Wil Smith looks to regain "postseason confidence" this cross season. He did qualify in the 1,600 and 3,200 at the state track meet but only ran in the 1,600 where he placed 13th overall in 4:20.73. His personal best times are 4:14.76 and 9:07.01 in the 3,200. Smith was fourth at the state cross meet last season running a time of 15:25.6 and led the Tigers to a fourth place team finish. Ran a personal best mark a week later at the NXN Northwest Regional Championships in 15:18.3. Don't know exactly what happened to him in the spring at the end of year, but he will be in the running to challenge Price for the state title.
Ethan Martin - Tahoma
Ethan Martin's track and field season was way too short this past spring. But, with the numbers he put up in the first couple of meets, Martin would have seen postseason action at Mount Tahoma in May. During track, his marks were 1:58.73, 4:21.36, and 9:47.92 in all three distance races. The top finisher for the Bears last season at the state cross meet, Martin placed 10th overall running 15:41.2, but ran a personal best time at Nike Portland XC in 15:39.4. One of two Tahoma runners to make our list, Martin will be in the mix to finish in the top five, while also focusing on gaining another state team title for the Bears.
Jacob Easton - University
Another kid in the running for the state title, Jacob Easton‘s speed has carried him to great heights the last two seasons of high school running. Easton was seventh at the state cross meet running 15:34.7, but his personal best time is 15:34 at the Inland Empire Challenge. In track, he was seventh at the state meet in the 1,600 where he ran 4:14.72. Even though he made it to state in one event, his personal best marks in the 800 and 3,200 were 1:57.81 and 9:21.12. One of two GSL runners to make our list, Easton and Smith will battle it out for the district title along with the state championship.
Brian Martinez - Tahoma
Brian Martinez is one of few 800 runners to have great success in the sport of cross country. Martinez was 14th at the state cross meet last season running 15:46.9 and was a contributor to Tahoma's state championship team. His best 5k time is 15:30.7, which was ran at the Nike Hole in the Wall Invite. An early favorite to win next years 800 state title, Martinez was the runner-up his junior season at the state track meet in the 800 running a personal best time of 1:53.61. He also qualified in the 1,600 and was eighth running a personal best time of 4:14.94. A top 10 finisher for sure and hopes to lead Tahoma to their second consecutive state title.
Sam Geiger - Camas
Following in the steps of Daniel Maton, Sam Geiger looks to continue a strong legacy of great Camas runners in his junior year. Geiger was 11th at the state cross meet last season, ahead of Maton, where he ran a personal best time of 15:42.9 and led the Papermakers to a third place team finish. Qualified for the state track meet in the 800 and 1,600. Geiger was eighth in the 800 and 11th in the 1,600. His personal best marks are 1:55.94 and 4:15.12. A top 8 finisher for sure at the state cross meet, and potentially even higher.
Cooper Cortinas - Walla Walla
Cooper Cortinas got a lot of attention last track season with his impressive 1,600 state race placing sixth overall in a personal best time of 4:12.8. During cross, Cortinas qualified for the state meet but didn't make the podium finishing in 23rd running 15:58.7. His personal best time of 15:45.1 was ran at the Nike Hole in the Wall Invite in the same season. A contributing member to Walla Walla's track state championship team, Cortinas is a dark horse runner to watch for this season as he is in the mix to finish in the top 10, maybe even higher.
Top 5 Teams
1. Tahoma
2. Camas
3. Lewis & Clark
4. Mead
5. Jackson
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