Lebanon runner Makayla Waller placed ninth at the USATF Junior Olympics Region 13 Championships held Nov. 22 in Seattle, Wash.

Waller, a fifth-grader at Hamilton Creek, covered the hilly 3,000-meter course in 13 minutes, 31 seconds.

The weekend before, Waller was second in the Association Champion-ships at Crooked River Ranch, finishing in 13:28.

Her regionals finish qualified her for the National Championships to be held Dec. 13 in Virginia. Last year, she competed in the national meet, which was in Kansas.

Waller has had a successful 2008 season, placing first or second in every race up until the regional meet. On Sept. 27, she won a race in Salem in 13:21. She was second on Oct. 11 in 13:20. At a race in Eugene on Oct. 18, she ran a personal best of 12:54 to place second.

She was first at Lebanon's Rush Through the Brush race on Oct. 22, covering the course at Waterloo Park in 13:23.

A few days later, also in Eugene, she won another race in 13:06. She finished in 13:08 at a Sandy race on Nov. 1, placing second.

Waller is a member of the Portland-based Oregon Cross Country team. Once a week, she travels to Portland for team workouts.

Waller hopes to raise enough money to attend the Nationals meet in Virginia. Any individuals or businesses who would like to help sponsor her should contact Michelle Waller at 259-5574.