The Wolfpack girls cross country squad, coached by Sammamish resident Todd Starnes, finished second at the Nike Cross Regionals in Boise, Idaho last weekend. The team, which consisted of 28 girls from Eastlake High School, had two varsity squads and one junior varsity team compete. The same group of varsity runners that won the 4A state meet, Nov. 8 were able to edge out Gig Harbor again, scoring 110 points. Gig Harbor finished third with 128 and Jesuit of Portland, Ore., won the event with 47.

The second-place Wolfpack squad earned one of two bids for the Nike Cross Nationals Dec. 6 in Portland. They are only the third Washington girls team to qualify for the national championship. Bellarmine Prep qualified in 2004 and Gig Harbor qualified in 2005.

The Wolfpack girls are made up of Chelsea Orr, Megan Batty, Katelyn Steen, Tasha Lingenbrink, Erin Blodnick, Haley O’Connor and Ashley Horton.

As they did in the state meet, the Eastlake girls didn’t place one runner in the top 20, but ran a strong strategic race. Megan Batty led the team in 28th place and Tasha Lingenbrink closed up the scoring in 57th.

Clubs from around the Northwest Region, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, Montana, Washington and Hawaii, competed in Saturday’s race.