Halfway through the cross country season, Eliisa Marshall felt unstoppable. The Camas senior had just ran her best 5,000 meter race. That time of 17 minutes, 56 seconds at the Nike Hole in the Wall Invitational was the fastest by any girl from Southwest Washington this year. Then, about a week before the District 4 championships, something felt off. “I was struggling to breathe,” Marshall said. “My runs weren’t as easy as they should have been.” Marshall rested for five days. She struggled through the district meet and finished third in 19:33, a minute slower than her typical time. A doctor’s visit followed along with a diagnosis — pneumonia. “That was a rough one to hear, especially at that time of the season,” Marshall said. “I was really worried that would be the end, especially with how my race at districts went.”

But what sets Marshall apart from most runners is her mental fortitude. It’s why she excels at both longer and shorter races, including a second-place finish in the 800 meters at the state track and field championships last spring. The lingering effects of pneumonia were no match for Marshall’s grit at the final two races of the season. “I was hurting,” Marshall said. “But if I give up now, there was no point in the rest of the work I had put in.” Less than two weeks after the drudgery of districts, Marshall placed second at the bi-district Westside Classic.

On Nov. 9, she finished sixth in Class 4A at the state meet. Her time of 18:18 was the fastest by any Southwest Washington girl that day in Pasco. For her achievements, Marshall is The Columbian’s All Region girls cross country runner of the year. Sports have been part of Marshall’s life since she was a child. Some of her earliest memories are doing kids triathlons in Central Oregon. As a Camas freshman, Marshall thought volleyball would be her fall sport. That changed when she went out for cross country her sophomore year.

Marshall placed 14th at the district meet and 43rd at state, setting the stage for a breakthrough track season. That spring, she finished eighth in both the 400 and 800 meters and most memorably anchored the Camas 1,600 relay team to the state championship. Why does Marshall excel no matter if the race lasts two minutes or 20? “They’re both similar in that it’s a complete mental game,” Marshall said. “That’s all that matters, where your mind is at and what you’re telling yourself. It doesn’t matter how far you’re running as long as you have a goal that you’re trying to chase down.” Marshall more than tracked down her goal at the state meet. After finishing 14th last year, she had a target of placing in the top 10. Her sixth-place time of 18:18 was a half-second ahead of Skyview senior and district champion Daphne Evenson. “My big goal was top five, but that’s before I got hit with pneumonia,” Marshall said. “But I really wanted top 10. I knew I could do it, so I was really happy when I got top six.”

Marshall has committed to run track at Boise State. She’ll also train with the university’s cross country team and might compete in the fall beginning in her sophomore year. Marshall hopes to end her high school career with a state championship in the 800 meters. After the trials and ultimate success of this cross country season, she’s is setting her goals high. “I’m super confident for this (track) season,” Marshall said. “After that I know I can run well no matter how I’m feeling.” The Rest of the All-Region Girls Cross Country Team Danica Allen, Ridgefield

Photo Senior battled through injury to be district runner-up and 2A Greater St. Helens League champ. Personal best of 18:23. Daphne Evenson, Skyview Senior was 4A district champ and seventh at state with personal best of 18:03. Ella Koch, Union Junior was 4A district runner-up and 15th at the elite Danner Championships. Personal best of 18:08. Casie Kleine, Castle Rock Senior finished 10th at state in a personal best of 19:33. Finished third at 1A district race and Trico League runner-up. Lyla Taylor, Hockinson Junior was consistently near top for the 2A district champ Hawks. Fourth at district and a personal best of 19:00.

Sara Thompson, Union Junior was fourth at 4A district meet, 10th a bi-district Westside Classic and had a personal best of 18:18.