During the final stage of a cross country race, when runners were at the height of discomfort, Kate Westfall was having fun.

Instead of focusing on her aching legs or burning lungs, the junior from Camas got a thrill each time she passed another runner.

It’s a big reason Westfall had a breakthrough season that saw her win a district title and clock the fastest time at the state meet by any girl from Southwest Washington.

“It became fun to compete,” Westfall said. “I started finishing races and would say ‘that was really fun.’ I would do that again instead of finishing and saying ‘oh that hurt a lot.’ ”

Westfall, the Columbian’s All-Region girls cross country runner of the year, had her first cross country breakthrough Sept. 20 at the Fort Steilacoom Invitational. She finished the 5,000

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