SEQUIM — One of the North Olympic Peninsula’s biggest stories for this weekend’s state championships is who won’t be there.
Runners from Sequim, Port Angeles, Port Townsend and Forks will be competing at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco on Saturday.
But Port Angeles sophomore Gracie Long will miss the Class 2A girls race because of a foot injury.
As a freshman last year, Long won league and district titles before placing 13th at her first state meet.
She added another Olympic League championship this year before that foot injury forced her to miss the Westside Classic last Saturday.
But Long wasn’t the only 2A girls standout from the Peninsula.
Right on her heels — literally — this season was Sequim senior Waverly Shreffler.
Seriously, Shreffler was right behind Long. At Cedars at Dungeness golf course late last month, Long edged Shreffler by a half-second for the league crown.
“It’s unfortunate that Gracie was hurt,” Sequim coach Harold Huff said this week.
“That league meet, it was one of the greatest races I’ve ever seen.
“They were never more than a stride and a half apart the entire race.
“They both just laid it out the last 200 yards, and they were still within a stride and a half.”
Shreffler placed 33rd at state in 2014, her first year running cross country after switching from soccer.
She has improved this season, as have the Wolves.
“We are definitely a better team than last year,” Huff said.
“There’s a couple reasons for that. One of them is Audrey Shingleton has been healthy this year.
“And the other reason that really bumped us up, that was a total surprise, is Kiara Pierson.”
Pierson, a sophomore, came to the Sequim girls cross country team by way of the wrestling team.
“Kiara Pierson went out for the wrestling team and ran to get in shape for wrestling,” Huff said.
“She is an natural runner. Her form is great, her focus — she is perfect for this sport.”
Shreffler was the only Sequim girl to run at state in 2014. This season, the Wolves going as a team after taking fifth at last Saturday’s district meet.
“Our goal at the beginning of the year was to just make it to state,” Huff said.
“We didn’t know even if we could win league, which they did.
“They focused and they worked really hard.”
Shreffler placed third at districts and has chopped nearly a full minute off her personal-best 5-kilometer time since last year, improving from 19:52 to 18:54.44.
“Obviously, Waverly got more miles under her, so she’s faster,” Huff said.
“Elizabeth Rosales also ran tons of miles over the summer, too.”
Rosales is a junior making her first state appearance.
Also running for the Wolves at state are Emily Webb, Noelle Bittner and Alexis Cromer. The team’s alternates are Ali Cobb and Mia Steben.
Two Riders running
Not having Long was a hit to the Port Angeles girls’ chances of making state as a team. The Roughriders did have two runners qualify, though.
Sophomore Madelyn Dougherty took 18th at the Westside Classic and Lael Butler was right behind in 19th place.
No Port Angeles boys qualified for state.
Class 1A boys
With a mixture of youth and experience, the Forks boys have claimed Evergreen League and Southwest District championships and qualified for state as a team this season.
Senior Alan Ensastegui will make the third state appearance of his career.
Ensastegui was leading the district meet until he lost his shoe and slip and fell. He still managed to place second by finishing in 17:08.
Austin Pegram (11th), Sam Gomez (15th) and Hugo Lucas (19th) also placed in the top 20.
Alvaro Ortiz and Johnny Lua also will run for the Spartans at state.
Port Townsend is sending two boys to state: junior River Yearian, who took sixth at the Westside Classic, and senior Jake Vande Griend, who was ninth.
Class 1A girls
The Forks girls missed qualifying for state as a team by five points, taking sixth place as a team at last week’s district championships.
Sophomore Enid Ensastegui was the Spartans’ highest finisher at districts with a ninth-place showing.
She’ll be joined at state by fellow sophomore Marissa Bailey, who placed 10th.
Port Townsend’s lone state qualifier is sophomore Ally Bradley, took 10th at the Westside Classic.
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Sports Editor Lee Horton can be reached at 360-417-3525 or at lhorton@peninsuladailynews.com.
