PORT ANGELES — The finish couldn’t have been much closer, but, no doubt, Audrey Lichten will take it.
The Sequim senior claimed a battle of state class runners when she edged out Port Angeles’ Alison Maxwell in Wednesday afternoon’s cross country meet at Lincoln Park.
Lichten, a three-time Class 2A state participant, outran Maxwell down the stretch to win the five-kilometer varsity girls race in 19 minutes, 40 seconds.
Maxwell finished just a hair behind.
In fact, her time (19:40) was the same as Liuchten’s
The three-time 3A state runner was given one consolation:
She and her Roughrider teammates dominated the three-way Olympic League meet against Sequim and North Mason, claiming spots 2 through 6.
Sequim took home the individual title in the boys’ race as well, with Adrian Clifford (17:16 ) barely beating out teammaate Joel Christopher (17:16) in another photo finish.
As was the case with the girls meet, the Rider boys, led by Tavish Taylor in third (17:32), dominated the rest of the race with five runners in the top eight.
Port Angeles had the best boys team score with 29 points, while Sequim had 37 and North Mason 60.
All three of schools will meet again next Thursday, Oct. 21, at the Olympic League championships at Cedars at Dungeness Golf Course.
THREE WAY MEET
Lincoln Park (5 kilometers)
Boys
Team scores: Port Angeles 29, Sequim 37, North Mason 60.
Top 10: 1, Adrian Clifford (SE) 17:16; 2, Joel Christopher (SE) 17:16; 3, Tavish Taylor (PA) 17:32; 4, Alex Graeber (NM) 17:36; 5, Trevor Taylor (PA)17:43; 6, Ryan Danisiewicz (PA) 17:49; 7, Nick Shindler (PA) 17:49; 8, Evan Herbert (PA) 17:53; 9, Zack Jenson (NM) 17:57; 10, Joe Dapcevich, (SE) 18:06.
Girls
Team scores: Port Angeles 15, Sequim and North Mason, not enough runners to qualify.
Top 10: 1, Audrey Lichten (SE) 19:40; 2, Alison Maxwell (PA) 19:40; 3, Khason Politika (PA) 20:41; 4, Jamie Gladfelter (PA) 21:22; 5, Hannah Wahto (PA) 21:27; 6, Elisabeth Moriarty (PA) 22:06; 7, Jasmine McMullon (SE) 22:27; 8, Belle Eastman (PA) 24:49; 9, Natalie McMurray (SE) 25:15; 10, Amelia Ohnstad (SE) 25:39.
PORT TOWNSEND BOYS GO OUT WITH A BANG
PORT TOWNSEND — It was just a normal meet for Port Townsend’s Bereket Piatt and Habtamu Rubio on Wednesday, except it was their last at home.
The Redskins untochable twosome — the Class 1A state champion and runner up, respectively — finished 1-2 in Wednesday’s three-way Olympic League meet against North Kitsap and Klahowya.
Piatt took down the 5K course in 14:56, while Rubio was second in 15:01. The next closest runner to the Redskins seniors was North Kitsap’s Daniel Hansen at 16:08.
That was more than enough to lead Class 1A’s top ranked team to a victory with 26 points to North Kitsap’s 40 and Klahowya’s 54.
Port Townsend’s girls were led by Brittany Grant, who took third in the varsity/junior varsity race with a time of 19:29.
THREE WAY MEET
Port Townsend (5 kilometers)
Boys
Team scores: Port Townsend 26, North Kitsap 40, Klahowya 54.
Top 10: 1, Bereket Piatt (PT) 14:56; 2, Habtamu Rubio (PT) 15:01; 3, Daniel Hansen (NK) 16:08; 4, Xavier Frank (PT) 16:18; 5, Ian Christen (NK) 16:26; 6, Griffin Hoins (PT) 16:27; 7, Mike Ward (KL) 16:32; 8, Benjamin Staker (NK) 16:33; 9, Jared Sell (KL) 16:35; 10, Kyle Ramsey (NK) 16:37.
Girls
Team scores: North Kitsap 20, Port Townsend 64, Klahowya, not enough runners to qualify.
Top 10: 1, Reagan Colyer (NK) 18:40; 2, Kathleen Ramsey (NK) 18:52; 3, Brittany Grant (PT) 19:29; 4, Clara Lund (NK) 20:10; 5, Catherine Sedy (NK) 20:23; 6, Emily Kreifels (KL) 20:32; 7, Sofi Grellner 20:34 (KL) KLAH; 8, Katrina Weinmann (NK) 20:34; 9, Olivia Krol (NK) 20:37; 10, Kendall Rock (NK) 20:46.
