The Columbia High School boys and girls cross country teams showcased their skills at the 2025 WIAA state meet on November 8 at the Sun Willows Golf Course in the Tri-Cities. Competing in the 1A division, the Bruin girls finished in 11th place out of 16 teams, while the boys team ended in 16th position.
The girls’ team scored a total of 255 points, while the top spot went to Meridian, which secured victory with 107 points. Leading the Bruins was junior Lilah Zimmerman, who delivered a strong performance, finishing 21st overall with a time of 20 minutes, 23 seconds on the 5,000-meter course. Sophomore teammate Kathryn O’Connor closely followed, placing 29th with a time of 20:28.
Additional contributors to the girls’ score included Maisy Kollman, who placed 95th in 22:26; Maya Tama, who finished 99th in 22:40; and Eda O’Connor, who came in 134th with a time of 24:31. Other runners included sophomore Jana Deinhofer in 138th (25:13) and senior Reyna Pinchot in 142nd (25:42). The Bruin girls qualified for the state meet by finishing second at the District 4 meet and previously secured an eighth-place finish at the state meet in 2024.
In the boys’ competition, Columbia finished with a team score of 400 points, placing 16th after a fourth-place finish at the district level. The Bruins were led by Colby Clark, who finished 98th with a time of 18:21. Following him were Carter Smith in 113th (18:36), Jack Brooks in 117th (18:38), Ethan Hayes in 127th (18:53), and Luther Thomas in 136th (19:12). Additional finishers included Everett Coyner in 145th (19:36) and Oliver Brokenshire in 147th (19:48). The boys’ team champion title was claimed by Cedar Park Christian, which scored 50 points.
The participation of both teams at the state meet reflects the dedication and hard work of Columbia High School’s athletes and coaching staff throughout the season. Their performances at this prestigious event will serve as a stepping stone for their future competitions.