Despite running well at the Nov. 1 district cross country meet at South Whidbey High School, neither Marysville-Pilchuck High School nor Arlington High School will be represented at the state cross country meet Nov. 8 at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco.

The M-P and Arlington teams weren’t well positioned for a team qualification in the 4A contests, but each school had a boy and girl with a realistic chance to make the state race as individuals — each needed a finish in the top 15.

All four fell tantalizingly close of the mark.

All season long, senior boys Sean Gregory of Arlington and Ryan Lanphere from Marysville had been neck and neck in competition. According to his coach, Gregory was driven this season to add a state cross country appearance to his resume after qualifying for the state track meet in the mile as a junior. While Lanphere got the better of him in leagues the week before, neither ran a top-15 time, with the Tomahawk finishing 17th and Gregory 39th.

Likewise, local ladies Lauren Ainsworth and Safa Pinkens were pushing for 15th place in the 4A girls race. Pinkens of Arlington edged Ainsworth, but both saw their cross country seasons end a week earlier than either would have liked with 17th- and 18th-place finishes.