The road to next week’s state cross country meet will take the Washington Demons to Solon tonight. The Demon cross country teams, who haven’t sent a runner to state in nine years, will run at the Class 3A state qualifying race. Washington will compete for three team and 15 individual spots at state against runners from Central DeWitt, Clear Creek Amana, Fairfield, Keokuk, Maquoketa, Marion, Mount Vernon-Lisbon, Notre Dame-West Burlington, Solon, South Tama and Williamsburg.

Sophomore Claire Horak has arguably the best chance to end Washington’s state meet drought. The first-year varsity runner has finished in the top 10 of every race this season, including a career-best second place finish at the Southeast Conference last Thursday in Fairfield. She recorded her first sub-20 minute performance at the conference meet, with a personal best time of 18:49.

Freshman Evan Horak was Washington’s top boys’ runner at the Southeast Conference meet. He earned all-conference honors with the ninth best race time at 17:19. Junior Brennan Horak, who entered the conference meet as Washington’s top runner, suffered an injury in the race’s last mile and didn’t finish.

The varsity race is set to begin at 4 p.m. at Solon’s Recreation and Nature Area. The last runner to represent Washington at the state cross country meet was Kelsey Anding in 2007.