Rainier putting 2024 state title in rear view mirror

RAINIER — By all accounts, youth didn’t end up mattering for the Rainier High School girls cross country team. Delve deep into the lineup from a year ago and the experience of big meets was mixed.

Komaire Robles and Alexis Myers were wide-eyed freshmen. Jazzlyn Schumate decided to join to stay in shape for her other two sports. Kinsley Barlow and Rayanna Wisner embarked on year two of trekking to Pasco.

“We have a really strong group and we always care about each other,” Myers said.

Yet the Mountaineers put it together – like they did all season long – to secure their first ever state championship in Class 1B/2B with 71 points, one point clear of Pope John Paul II. The historic season that featured league and district titles ended on the highest of notes.

Now, Rainier is ready to climb the mountain again.

“It is going to be a little harder than last year,” Schumate said. “I’m really excited. We can do it.”

Robles, Shumate and Myers make up the core trio of a repeat quest while Wisner and Barlow anchor the back part of the potential scoring five. The other two spots are a three-way battle that includes Morton-White Pass transfer Isabella McCarthy.

While the leadership spurred by Madison Ingram and Emma Mathson isn’t easily replaceable, longtime head coach Rob Henry believes it will be a collaborative effort.

“The girls all bring different strengths; there won’t be that one captain,” Henry stated. “Our goal is to get back on the podium if we can.”

Schumate’s debut season started off with a victory in a C2BL kickoff meet and continually saw her times drop. Once the three important meets hit the schedule, the senior hit her stride with back-to-back personal records.

She broke 20 minutes for the first time at state with an 11th place finish in 19 minutes, 57.60 seconds.

“I can hang with those girls and state came, I really had goals for myself,” Schumate said. “This year, I feel like I have so much pressure. I want to push myself further.”

Myers felt the emotions of not medaling at state track heavily. It waned on her mentally. Looking back a handful of months later, she’s hopeful it doesn’t happen again in either sport.

Myers is coming off a year where she notched six top-six finishes and a PR at state.

“It was one of the worst feelings of my running (career),” Myers said. “It is about having a good mentality.”

Robles was neck-and-neck with Ingram for the top runner position most of the year. Still, the Mountaineers honed in on pack running. When the gun went off in districts, they jumped out to the front together and never wavered.

It’s expected to be another point of emphasis.

“It all goes back to your four and five, how strong are they?” Henry said.

Rainier traditionally runs in the Fort Steilacoom Invite that is loaded with teams from across the state. It was in the bronze division and coasted to a team title with 55 points in 2024.

To Henry, it cemented the Mountaineers chances at a special season.

“You’ve got schools from all around (the state),” he said. “Thing about cross, especially girls, you don’t know what can happen.”

Schumate isn’t willing to solely rely on one meet being the “defining meet” of their year.

“From the beginning (in) that very first meet, we set our goals,” she added.

Pope John Paull II returns Ruby Henry, an all-state runner, and St. George’s brings back individual champ Regan Thomas. Eight of the top-10 individual finishers are expected to return.

“This year could be completely different,” Myers said.

For a sport that prides itself on individuality, Rainier has always viewed cross country as a team sport. It’s a mindset that has served the Mountaineers well for nearly 25 years since the program’s inception in 2001.

“We always cheer each other on, even during races,” Myers said.