By Michael Carman
Peninsula Daily News
UNIVERSITY PLACE — Port Angeles’ Gracie Long bested competition from larger schools to win the girls varsity race at the 22nd Curtis Cross Country Invitational.
Long’s time of 19 minutes, 32 seconds in the 5-kilometer (3.1 mile) run was better than 300 other runners from 50 different schools in Saturday’s meet at Chambers Bay’ Central Meadow.
The list of entrants was so big that the boys and girls varsity races had to be run in heats with teams’ No. 1-4 runners going first and the No. 5-8 runners second.
“A great day for Port Angeles Cross Country in Tacoma,” Roughriders coach Rodger Johnson said. “Incoming rainstorms skirted the course, and all races took place in partly cloudy, cool and windy conditions.”
Port Angeles finished 11th overall with 310 points. Crescent Valley (Ore.) won the girls meet with 85 points.
Freshman Lauren Larson came in 23rd overall for the Riders with a time of 20:26.9. Madelyn Dougherty was 81st in 21:33.6 and Ella Holland 117th in 22:03.6.
“This was a great course to keep your pace on, especially with music playing,” Holland said. “The big hill didn’t seem as big this year.”
Runners from Sequim and Clallam Bay also competed in the meet.
The Sequim girls finished 36th as a team.
Kaitlyn Viada led the way in 24:59.6. Jessica German finished the meet in 25:44.8, Emily Silva (26:33.7) and Natalie Arrequin (26:46) also ran for the Wolves.
Clallam Bay’s Kaylin Signor completed the course in 25:49.3.
Wolves, Riders boys
On the boys side, Sequim finished 32nd as a team and Port Angeles was 37th.
The best time came from the Wolves’ Alec Shingleton, who was 92nd in 18:01.8. Liam Byrne finished in 18:23.1 for Sequim and Jazen Bartee came in with a time of 18:52.8.
The Riders were led by Gabriel Long (18:20), followed by Thomas Shaw (18:52) and Cameron Butler (19:03). Logan Tyson finished in 19:48.2 and Dane Deming crossed the line in 20:10.1.
Johnson also said the junior varsity boys ran well with three setting personal records.
“The varsity slots are always up for grabs, and the JV boys are hungry for the No. 7 varsity slot,” he said.
Sequim hosts a meet Wednesday at Robin Hill County Park against North Mason and Bremerton.
Port Angeles runs against North Kitsap and Olympic on Wednesday at Bainbridge Island’s Battlepoint Park.
Port Townsend runs at Twilight Invite
MARYSVILLE — The Redhawk boys finished 11th out of 28 1B-2A teams at the annual Nike Twilight Invitational at Cedarcrest Golf Club on Saturday night.
Nathan Cantrell was 17th for Port Townsend in 17:14.91 and teammate Gabe Petrick completed the course in 17:27.91 to place 28th. Kincaid Gould (18:25.01) and Seamus Fraser (18:26.93) also ran for the Redhawks.
Port Townsend’s girls had a tougher go, finishing 19th out 19 1B-2A teams.
Ally Bradley led the Redhawks, finishing 52nd in 22:06.59. Aliyah Parson was 84th in 23:13.15 and Rachel Matthes 85th in 23:13.46.
Port Townsend runs against Kingston and Klahowya at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds on Wednesday.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
