Senior Ben Gasper and junior Alexis Smith of Oak Harbor High School led the local runners at the state cross country championships at Pasco’s Sun Willows Golf Course Saturday, Nov. 4.

The Wildcat runners each finished 51st in their respective races on a cold and cloudy day.

In the boys race, Gasper ran the 5,000-meter course in a personal best 16:20. Sophomore Dallas Riddle-Stevens also PR’ed, taking 100th out of 160 in 16:52.5.

James Mwaura of Tacoma’s Lincoln High School was the individual champion with a time of 14:48.3.

Kamiakin of Kennewick was the team champion. (Schools needed five or more runners to quality for a team score.)

Smith and her sophomore sister Megan each competed at state last year as well, and while both finished slightly lower in the standings this season, each recorded better times than in 2016.

Alexis, who was sick and didn’t return to practice until Wednesday, clocked a 19:30.3. Megan ran a personal best 20:00.5 and placed 83rd out of 159.

Last year Alexis was 50th in 19:59.9, and Megan placed 80th in 20:17.7.

Erinn Hill of Spokane’s North Central led her team to the championship by winning the race in 17:55.3.

Coupeville junior Danny Conlisk competed in the 1A boys race and finished 124th out of 156 in 18:06.9.

Kenneth Rooks of College Place was the 1A boys individual champion in 15:18.8, and Medical Lake took the team title.