Thurston County XC Standouts Shine at NXR Northwest Regional
The Aftermath: The Olympia High School Girls team is all smiles after securing a historic 7th-place finish at the Nike Cross Regionals (NXR) Northwest Championship in Spokane.
Thurston County cross country talent delivered impressive performances at the highly competitive Nike Cross Regionals (NXR) Northwest Championship on Saturday, November 15th in Spokane. The NXR Northwest Regional draws the elite of high school running from seven states, including Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming.
The Olympia High School Girls team led the charge with a standout 7th-place finish. Finishing 7th in this field means the Olympia Bears placed among the top regional teams in the entire country.
Pure Joy: The work is done! The Olympia girls sharing an ecstatic moment immediately after the race.
Olympia Girls Power to 7th Place
Olympia High School’s frontrunner, Sydney Koss, crossed the finish line in the Championship 5-kilometers with a new personal best time of 17:36.40, earning an exceptional 12th place overall.
Locked In: Sydney Koss powers toward the finish line at NXR Northwest. She placed 12th overall with a massive PR of 17:36.40.
Koss was ecstatic, immediately scanning the finish area for her teammates, knowing the collective effort was what truly mattered. Moments after her finish, the rest of the team poured in: runners collapsing to the ground, some requiring assistance from volunteers, and others smiling from ear to ear.
Freshman standout Leah Hennen finished 42nd (18:11.50), followed by Gemma Stevick (fr), Eliza Johnson (fr), Carolina Schilter (jr), Azalea Barksdale (jr), and Ava Barr (sr).
The Bears formed an incredible bond over the course of the cross-country season. With Koss at the helm, she brought together three talented freshmen who gave this varsity squad the fuel it needed to make a strong run at a state championship and cap it off with a highly impressive 7th-place performance against the best regional teams in the U.S..
Thurston County Individuals Make Their Mark
The individual achievements were equally historic for the local area:
Freshman Phenomenon: Quenton Lanese built on his second-place finish at the state championship by being the first freshman across the line at the regional level. He finished 24th overall in an incredible field of elite runners. This placement signals a bright future on the national stage for the young athlete.
Capitol High Competitor: Jae Walz of Capitol High School also competed successfully in the Open Division, representing the depth of Thurston County talent.
Freshman Phenom: Quenton Lanese wasn't just running; he was competing with the best. Here he is battling ahead of Jesuit’s Kellen Williams on his way to finishing as the #1 freshman in the entire region.
Thurston County Depth: Jae Walz of Capitol High School battling in the pack during the Open Division race. His performance highlights the incredible depth of running talent we have right here in Thurston County.
Yelm Finishes Strong
Left it all on the course: The Yelm boys in recovery mode after a grueling race. The team put together a solid performance in the Open Division, finishing 40th out of 128 teams.
The Yelm XC team also competed in the Open Division, finishing 40th out of 128 teams. Marcos Andujar finished first for their team.
Senior standout Kailey Slevin capped off her final high school cross country season by crushing the Open Division race in a time of 18:56.69. This was good enough for 41st out of 851 competitors and secured a new personal best.
Saving the Best for Last: Yelm senior Kailey Slevin capped off her high school cross country career in incredible fashion. She crushed the Open Division race with a new personal best of 18:56.69.
These results confirm that the local running scene is exceptionally strong, delivering top-tier performances against the largest and most competitive regional event in the country.
Event Photos
I have uploaded my full gallery from the event. Downloads are free for athletes and their families to celebrate this achievement.
