Bartels sets personal record at Regionals

CHEWELAH–A trio of Pomeroy Cross Country runners finished the 1B/2B District 7 & 9 Regional Cross Country meet here last weekend, but despite registering decent times, the competitiveness of the field eliminated them from advancing to the State Cross Country Meet.

Pomeroy’s senior Cross Country runner, Evan Bartels, finished 70th at Regionals, held at the Chewelah Golf Course on November 2. There were 100 runners and 20 teams in the 5,000 meter race.

Bartels ran his best time of the season, 20:09.96.

Bartels consistently ran in the 20-minute plus 10-15 seconds down the stretch, carving significant seconds off of his time following the first four meets of the season. In those early meets, Bartels’ times hovered around 21 minutes with his breakthrough to the 20:10 range at the District 7/9 South Meet at Valley Christian on October 8.

Bartels’s best finish of the season was third at the District 9-1B Championship meet on October 25.

Freshman harrier Samuel Lamb placed 90th with a time of 22:36.16.

Lamb’s best mark of the season was in the Inland Empire Challenge on October 5 where he set his personal best of 21:58.0.

Eighth grader Aidan Knuteson was close to Lamb at the finish, coming across in 92nd place. Knuteson’s time was 23:33.65

During the season, Knuteson’s best time was 23:10 at the Inland Empire Challenge on October 5, along with teammate Lamb.

Top teams who will run at state in Pasco include 1. Asotin, 79; 2. St. Georges, 101; 3. Davenport, 117; 4. Colfax 119; Valley Christian, 133.

Easton Pomrankey of Kettle Falls was first in 16:42.21.