Camas cross country teams secure league championships

The Papermaker cross country teams polished off their league championship trophies by defeating longtime nemesis Columbia River Oct. 11, at Round Lake.

Freshman Alexa Efraimson finished first for the Camas girls, and established a new course record time of 19 minutes, 51 seconds. She dedicated her performance to seniors Austen Reiter and Lindsay Wourms.

“This was the last time Austen and Lindsay got to run this course,” Efraimson said. “I just wanted to run for them today, and help our team win the meet.”

Reiter (21:10) followed in second place, and Megan Napier (21:31) notched third. Alissa Pudlitzke (21:42), Wourms (21:45) and Camille Parsons (21:53) claimed fifth- through seventh-place. Trisha Patterson (22:46) and Kimi Knight (22:49) took ninth and 10th.

Reiter and Napier set the third and fourth best times for girls at Round Lake.

“It was kind of hard to see in the rain, but this was the last dual of my high school career and I wanted to have some fun,” Reiter said. “The rain was fun, the hills were fun and it was all good.

“Racing against Columbia River is one of the highlights of the season,” she added. “They have been such a powerhouse, but now it is Camas’ turn. I am so proud to be a part of this team, and to be ending things on a good note.”

Andrew Kaler (17:38), Tucker Boyd (17:39), Alex Pien (18:11) and Andrew Duffy (18:13) snagged the top four spots for the Papermakers in the boys race.

“We had been thinking and training hard for this meet all summer,” Kaler said. “We really wanted to be league champions. Columbia River took it away from us the last few years. It definitely was a motivating factor.”

Kaler and Boyd completed their first laps in less than nine minutes. They set the third and fourth best times for boys at Round Lake.

“Our plan was to lose the River guys, get out in the open, have some fun, and then duke it out in the end,” Boyd said. “There is not a single person on this team who can come out here and win a league title. It takes all of us running together, competing hard and representing our school.”

The championship circuit begins for the Papermakers Thursday, with the district meet at Lewisville Park in Battle Ground. Racing begins at 3:30p.m.