Bears break away with first district cross country championship

BREWSTER – For the first time in the school’s history, the Brewster Bears varsity cross country team won the district championship on Oct. 29, behind the first-place sprint of senior Juan David Martinez plus four Bears’ teammates who crossed the line among the top dozen finishers.

That is sweet enough, but there’s more. David paced his performance in the 5,000-meter race and ended with a surge in the final 100 yards to pass the two leaders from defending champion Liberty Bell on the Mountain Lions’ home course to win the individual title.

The Brewster boys were scheduled to compete in the state championships on Sun Willows golf course in Pasco on Saturday, Nov. 5

Junior Kaydence Carrington turned in a strong performance for the Lady Bears with a second-place finish just 14 seconds behind the Liberty Bell winner. Senior teammate Karla Pulsifer finished 13th among a field of 23 runners. Both girls also qualified for state.

Bears 5K results:

1. Juan David Martinez             17:14.5
2. Dexter Delaney (LBHS)                     17:15.5
3. William Halpin (LBHS)                     17:15.8
4. Aksel Thomson (LBHS)                     17:33
5. Osvaldo Calderon                              17:52.8
6. Carlos Campos (Bridgeport)              17:53.7
7. Enrique Campos                                 17:59.59
8. Hyrum Lyles (Okanogan)                   18:22.09
9. Cayden Milton-Behler                       18:28.09
10. Finley Weston                                    18:29.3
11. Simon Beery                                       18:50.05
12. Francisco Duran                                 18:59.9

The finishing order of the remains Bears runners included:

       23. Miguel Hernandez                             19:50.07

       28. Omar Barrera                                     20:32.5           

Team scores

1. Brewster                 31

2. Liberty Bell               39

3. Okanogan                56

4. Tonasket                 120

5. Manson                   139

6. Lake Roosevelt       153

State championships

The Brewster runners competed in the state championships on Sun Willows golf course in Pasco on Saturday, Nov. 5. The Bears placed sixth among 16 1B/2B teams with 148 points. The top 10 schools included:

1. Chewelah                83

2. Pope John Paul II    121

3. St. George’s            131

4. Liberty Bell               137

5. Davenport               146

6. Brewster                 148

            • Juan David Martinez - 9th

            • Enrique Campos came - 38th

            • Miguel Hernandez - 112th

            • Omar Barrera - 143rd

7. Valley Christian     159

8. Goldendale             211

9, Garfield-Palouse    231

10, Mossyrock            233

Kadence Carrington  placed seventh and teammate Kara Pulsifer 59th in the girls race.