Ortiz Leads Colville to Eighth-Place Finish at 1A State Meet

Colville junior Malik Ortiz continued his standout season Nov. 8, at the WIAA 1A State Cross Country Championships, racing to a fourth-place finish against the state’s top small-school runners at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco.

Ortiz covered the 5,000-meter course in 15 minutes, 45.6 seconds, staying stride-for-stride with the front pack that included eventual champion Oliver Zimmerman of Cedar Park Christian (Bothell), who won in 15:22.9. Ortiz’s effort helped propel the Colville Crimson Hawks to an eighth-place team finish overall in the 16-team field.

Colville finished with 215 team points, tying Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) for seventh and just behind perennial powers such as Cedar Park Christian, Meridian, and King’s.

Behind Ortiz, senior Isaiah Ortiz placed 31st in 17:01.2, giving the Hawks two runners in the top third of the 155-runner field. Senior Connor Schneider was next across the line for Colville, clocking 17:43.7 for 44th place, followed by junior Jerrin Patrick in 61st (18:13.2).

Juniors Isaac Ballance (83rd, 18:45.0) and Daniel Aguilar (84th, 18:45.4) rounded out the scoring five, while Layden Moore finished 89th in 18:55.8, adding depth for a team that once again proved it belongs among the state’s best.