CROSS COUNTRY: PA boys win league title; PA’s Larson wins girls’ race

BAINBRIDGE — The Port Angeles boys won the Olympic League championship by a wide margin, while Port Angeles’ Lauren Larson ran her best competitive race of the year to win the individual girls’ championship, beating out Sequim’s top runner, Riley Pyeatt, who ran her fastest time of the year.

The Port Angeles boys got five finishes in the top 17 runners to finish with 59 points, easily beating Klahowya, which had 83 points (Lower scores are better in cross country). Sequim came in eighth with 186 points.

“This was the flattest course of the season, the weather was perfect, and all the boys were healthy,” said Port Angeles coach Rodger Johnson. “We knew they would run well today, and the way they worked together over the first two miles was amazing. Finishing in first place in our region is a huge confidence booster for these boys — all of whom will return to run next year.”

The race at Battle Point Park on Bainbridge Island featured the top seven runners from 11 schools thrown together into the Olympic League this COVID-19-affected season — Port Angeles, Sequim, East Jefferson, Klahowya, Central Kitsap, Bainbridge, North Kitsap, South Kitsap, North Mason, Bremerton and Olympic. This is the only postseason the cross country runners will get this shortened season.

Leading the Roughriders was Jack Gladfelter with a personal-best time of 16 minutes, 43.2 seconds, just 30 seconds out of first place, run by Kelton Gagnon of Klahowya. Gladfelter’s time was good for fifth place.

Sequim’s Colby Ellefson also had a top 10 finish, coming in seventh with a time of 17:00.6. The Riders’ Maxwell Baeder joined two of his teammates in the top 10, finishing ninth (17:29.3). Teammates Joshua Gavin was 13th (17:42.3), Langdon Larson was 15th (17:47.3) and Naaman McGuffey was 17th (18:06.2).

Sequim’s Eli Gish was 19th (18:16.0) and Port Angeles’ Lucas Gavin was 22nd (18:21.3). Sebastian Manza had the best time for East Jefferson, coming in 23rd with a time of 18:28.0.

Rounding out the local boys, Kowen Kasten was 40th (19:09.2), Sequim’s Henry Hughes was 42nd (19:15.6), Sequim’s Jaxon Cogburn was 53rd (19:59.5), Sequim’s Zack Gufler was 68th (22:00.5), East Jefferson’s Braley Phillips was 71st (23:05.5), East Jefferson’s Ocean Smith was 72nd (23:05.5) and East Jefferson’s Indigo Gould was 76th (24:17.6).

Girls’ race

In the girls’ race, Larson had a great time of 18:39.3 as only three girls cracked 20 minutes. That was by far Larson’s best time in direct competition this year — she did have some better times in virtual races. Pyeatt was a solid second at 19:03.6, which was a season record for her.

“Lauren Larson led the girl’s race from start to finish. Riley Payette from Sequim started fast and Lauren went with her, building a large gap between the rest of the pack. In the last mile, Lauren was able to pull ahead, and just never slowed down, finishing with her best time of the season,” Johnson said.

East Jefferson’s Aliyah Yearian got a top 10 time, finishing eighth with a time of 21:25.4.

In team scores, 3A Central Kitsap won with 38 points. Port Angeles came in fifth with 133 points. Sequim and East Jefferson did not have enough runners for team scores.

East Jefferson’s Camryn Hines had a top 15 time, finishing 15th at 21:59.5.

Rounding out the girls’ field, Sequim’s Anastasia Updike was 24th at 22:39.2, the Roughriders’ Kathryn Guttormsen was 27th at 22:54.7, Sequim’s Jessica German was 28th at 23:02.3, Sequim’s Aidyn Shingleton was 36th (23:58.7), Port Angeles’ Jenna McGoff was 38th at 24:19.4, Port Angeles’ Gracie Townsend was 45th (25:15.9), East Jefferson’s Lia Poore was 46th (25:57.8), Port Angeles’ Emma Weaver was 49th (26:17.8) and East Jefferson’s Gina Brown was 56th (27:41.4).

Seventy-six boys and 60 girls ran in the race.

Forks at Pacific League

OCOSTA — Forks’ Keira Johnson finished second in the girls Pacific League championship cross country race.

Johnson finished with a time of 20:36. Only two girls in the race finished under 21 minutes. The Spartans’ Karen Ensastegui was eighth with a time of 22:48 and Kendall Marshall was 15th at 25:44.

For the boys, the Spartans’ William Perez was ninth with a time of 17:48.

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Sports Editor Pierre LaBossiere can be contacted at plabossiere@peninsuladailynews.com.