Hennings 5th at district cross-country

Lind-Ritzville junior Heidi Hennings is set to compete at the regional cross-country meet at Plant’s Ferry in Spokane on Saturday, Nov. 2. Hennings earned the opportunity to compete in the regional meet after placing fifth at the district cross-country meet at Audubon Park last Saturday.

A top 20 finish at the regional meet this Saturday moves Hennings on to the state championship competition at Sun Willows on Nov. 9.

Hennings is the sole Lind-Ritzville/Sprague athlete competing in the cross-country competition this year, and in her first year in the sport, she has already found success this season. LRS track coach, Randy Heidenreich, is coaching Hennings this season.

The season began for Hennings on Sept. 17 in the District 7 All NE 1B/2B League Open, where Hennings recorded a 25:06 time in the 5,000-meter race. She then traveled to a league meet in Davenport on Sept. 24 where she competed in the 2.9-mile race and placed ninth with a time of 22:24.

On Oct. 1, Hennings traveled to St. George’s to compete in another District 7 League Meet and recorded a time of 29:05 in the 5,000-meter. She proceeded on to competed in the three-mile race on Oct. 8 where she placed second overall with a time of 21.33.

Hennings traveled to the Northwest Christian Invitational on Oct. 12, finishing ninth overall in the 5,000-meter with a time of 24.57. She competed in the District 7 NE 1B/2B League Meet on Oct. 15, receiving a third place finishing with a time of 22:44 in the 5,000-meter and earning the opportunity to compete in the district championship meet.

At the district championship meet, Hennings recorded her personal best time for the season in the 5,000-meter with a time of 21:44 and placed her fifth in the contest.

Hennings’ mother, Ann, said Hennings has improved tremendously this season and in the past few meets has found success by starting the race strong from the line. Ann said Hennings excels in sprint finishes and uphill pulls, which will help her at the courses with steep inclines.

Ann explained the next course is relatively flat, and Hennings must concentrate on her breathing in order to finish in the 20-minute bracket and earn an opportunity to compete in the state championship.