PORT ANGELES — Twenty-one of the best high school cross country teams in the state is set for Saturday’s Salt Creek Invitational, hosted by Port Angeles.
Salt Creek has grown into one of the top cross country meets in the state, attracting the best teams and runners in Washington, including Kingston of Poulsbo, which has dominated Olympic League and state 2A girls competition for the past three years.
Kingston’s Ruby Roberts, a two-time state winner, won’t be back to defend her 2009 Salt Creek title because she’s running for Washington State this year.
Ruby’s little sister, Marina, though, could be one of the favorites after claiming second in state behind Ruby last November.
Some of the teams joining Kingston at Saturday’s meet are Auburn, Central Valley, Evergreen-Vancouver, Kentlake and Shelton, all 4A; Bainbridge, Bellevue, Bremerton, Lake Washington, Nathan Hale and Sammamish, all 3A; and 2A schools Interlake, Klahowya, North Kitsap, North Mason, Olympic and host Port Angeles.
Forks and Lynden Christian are the 1A entries while Crosspoint Academy will represent the 1B/2B level.
Forks Middle School also will compete.
Bellevue is the defending boys team champion.
The boys meet will be missing some flavor with the absence of Port Townsend/Chimacum and Port Townsend’s defending boys champion Bereket Piatt.
Piatt, the Redskins and the Cowboys will be competing at the Seaside, Ore., Three-Course Challenge on Saturday.
The Salt Lake Invitational, held at Salt Creek Recreation Area near Joyce, starts at 9:45 a.m. with the open race for any runner, followed by JV girls at 10:30 a.m., JV boys at 11 a.m., varsity girls at 11:30 a.m., varsity boys at noon and the awards ceremony at 1 p.m.
