Battle Ground sophomore runner Devontae Kephart claimed third place while freshman runner Lord King Nana-Badu-Weah secured fifth during the 4A Greater St. Helens League cross country championships at Lewisville Park on Wednesday, Oct. 18.
Tigers boys runners Sterling Sutton and Trae Copper were also among the top 21 runners after the 4A GSHL championships. Girls runners Isabel Brown and Sophia Rogers qualified for regionals as well.
The younger runners of Kephart and Nana-Badu-Weah have led the Tigers all season long with Kephart’s fastest time for three miles this season being 16 minutes, 16 seconds, and Nan-Badu-Weah’s fastest coming in at 16:41, both personal records. Kephart’s league championship time was 17:01.32, and Nana-Badu-Weah’s time was 17:12.26.
“They put in a lot of miles, and they’re hard workers, great kids,” Tigers head coach Kevin Donovan said. “They obviously are doing well, but we also have a lot of kids doing well, and I think the kids that have put in some miles over the last year show lots of improvement.”
Donovan has high hopes for regionals after his boys team qualified.
“As a team, we have a chance. There’s going to be 16 teams up there, and there’s going to be seven that make it to state,” Donovan said. “So we’re one of 16, and you never know: We run good, we have a chance. So that’s all we can ask for, and we’ll see what happens.”
The Westside Classic regionals take place at University Place at Chambers Creek Properties Central Meadow on Saturday, Oct. 28. The girls 4A varsity race will take place at 1:25 p.m., and the boys 4A varsity race is slated for 2:30 p.m.
For more information and stats about Battle Ground cross country, visit athletic.net/team/535/cross-country/2023.
