Mercer Island High School’s girls and boys cross country squads ruled the state scene for the second consecutive season by once again notching 3A team championships.

At Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco on Nov. 8, junior Sophia Rodriquez led the way for the girls by winning her third straight individual title with a time of 17:24.00 — 27 seconds ahead of second-placer Cassidy Armstrong of Ballard.

Also reaching the podium for the girls were freshman Rizah Despres with an 11th-place mark of 18:52.80 and sophomore Ella Zhang with a 15th-place time of 19:05.30. It is the first time ever at state that MI’s girls have three podium medal winners. Other MI state girls runners were: freshmen Bella Heczey, Sierra Brondstetter and Ava Arnsdorf and junior Dora Cheng.

For the triumphant boys, senior

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