Montesano’s boys parlayed their pack mentality approach into a district cross country championship.

With five runners placing in the top 15, but none in the top five, the Bulldogs captured boys team honors at the District IV Class 1A Cross Country Championships on Oct. 28 at the the Lewis River Golf Course.

Montesano amassed 53 points to finish nine ahead of runner-up White Salmon.

The Bulldogs will be represented as a group at the state 1A meet next Saturday at Pasco.

Aberdeen senior Faith Cardenas punched her ticket to state by running fourth in the girls 2A meet, also at Woodland.

North River’s Forrest Carbaugh, Willapa Valley’s Ryon Ashley, South Bend’s Nathan Ashley, Ocosta’s Kyler Brockhoff, Raymond’s Jachin Heckman and North Beach’s Jeffery Eison were among the state qualifiers in the District IV Class B meet Saturday at Onalaska.

The top three teams and 21 individuals earned state berths in most classifications. In the district B boys meet, the top five teams and 35 individuals advanced.

Class 1A

Without any title-contending individuals, Montesano had counted on its depth since the outset of the season.

It paid off again Saturday. Monte’s top five runners finished within 21 seconds of each other and the top six Bulldogs (and the top two Monte girls) all established personal-best times.

This time it was junior Andy Fry who led the pack with a sixth-place finish in 17:26. Freshman teammate Martin Shuck was three seconds behind in seventh.

Josef Aschenbrenner was 12th in 17:44, Connor Parkinson 13th in 17:45 and Braden Stowers 15th in 17:47. Although only the top five runners scored team points, Monte freshman Tucker Stecher was a respectable 23rd in 18:05.

Veteran Montesano coach James Edwards was almost giddy in describing his team’s performance.

“Our goal at the first of the year was to get five guys under 18 minutes,” Edwards said. “Yesterday, I told them if we got all five under 18, we’ll be knocking on the door of a district championship. It’s cool, it’s awesome when a plan works out.”

Elma’s Gunner Jones (34th), Braedon McMillan (35th) and Tucker Holcomb (39th), Hoquiam’s Carlos Juarez (37th) and Montesano’s Thomas Bergstrom (38th) also cracked the top 40.

La Center’s Calvin DuBois won the boys individual title, covering the 5,000 meters in 16:37.

No Grays Harbor girl advanced. Hoquiam freshman Valerie Roloff narrowly missed a state berth by taking 23rd in 22:46, finishing only 23 seconds out of 21st.

Montesano’s Madolyn Olson was 28th and Monte’s Valerie Prall 32nd.

La Center won the girls team title, while Seton Catholic’s Sydnee Dyer was the individual champion with a time of 18:55.

Class 2A

Aberdeen’s Cardenas ran 20:06 for her fourth-place finish. Washougal’s Amelia Pullen won the girls race at 18:30.

She was the lone Bobcat state qualifier. Jordan McKinney topped the Aberdeen boys by taking 41st in 17:44.

Ridgefield’s boys and Tumwater’s girls were the team champions. Ridgefield’s Kyle Radosevich won the boys individual title with a 15:54 time.

Class B

North River senior Carbaugh led the Twin Harbors contingent, taking 18th in the boys meet at 17:41.09.

Ryon Ashley was 20th at 17:43.33, Brockhoff 26th in 17:56.01, Heckman 28th at 18:00.41 and Eison 29th in 18:00.98. Brockhoff’s 5,000-meter time was a personal best by nearly 90 seconds.

Nathan Ashley, Ryon’s brother, nabbed the 35th and final state berth at 18:06.7. Ocosta’s Daniel Quinby, 36th at 18:29.32, will be a state alternate.

Twin Harbors girls were shut out of state places. North River’s Georgia Clark was the top area finisher by taking 24th in 22:03.67.

Ocosta’s Dylan Most was 25th, while Wildcat teammates Natalie Cain and Jasmin Velasco took 27th and 32nd, respectively. Ocosta coach Aaron Anderson cited the performances of Most and Cain.

Willapa Valley’s Amber Anderson (28th), North River’s Ruby Gumaelius (34th) and North Beach’s Kaytlynn Corey (36th) also finished in the top 40.

Perennial state power Northwest Christian of Lacey swept boys and girls team honors. Northwest Christian’s Ellie Summers won the girls individual title at 18:46.06. Adna’s Austin Apperson was the boys champion in 15:34.13.