WP’s Deal Is Now Twice A District Champ

WAITSBURG - For the second time, Waitsburg- Prescott's Seth Deal is the boys cross country District 9 champion.

Deal took first place on Thursday at Clarkston High School with a time of 15:30 in the varsity boy's 3-mile race .

WP's E.J. Meserve will join Deal at the state competition because he placed 11th with a time of 17:12. The top 15 runners in each race will go on to compete at state.

Meserve shaved nearly one minute off his time Thursday from a competition on the course earlier this season, coach Joanna Lanning said.

WP's Trent Hafen, who has been battling an injury all season, did compete on Thursday, but did not earn a trip to state. He came in 18th with a time of 19:20.

Lanning said she was disappointed Hafen didn't qualify and said it was because his injury only allowed him to maintain his fitness, but not improve throughout the season.

"That was really hard," Lanning said.

Deal had no problems on the course despite battling an injury last week. She said they had planned on him not pushing himself too hard because of that injury, and just doing enough to make it to state. But, he surprised her.

"He did enough to win," Lanning said.

Dayton Bulldogs also competed in the district meet last Thursday, though non ran fast enough to make it to state.

Dayton's Micah Yeater came in 24th with a time of 20:49 in the boys race. Bulldog Samura Miller came in 49th in the girl's 3-mile varsity race.

Up next for Deal and Meserve is the state competition this Saturday in Pasco.

"Seth will be gunning for the state title," Lanning said. "It will be an exciting race."

She has her eyes on a couple of competitors from other schools who have also had great seasons, but she said no one can guarantee what will happen on Saturday.

"Any given day somebody might be really on," she said.