For the first time in four years, Vashon High School’s Pirate cross country team took on Orting High School’s team on the Cardinals’ home course, which consists of three one-mile loops on the Orting campus. Seattle Christian Schools and Mount Rainier Lutheran High School also participated in the meet, which took place on Thursday.

The Pirates came in short handed on runners due to illness and a few injuries. They did have a few outstanding individual performances, though they did not factor into the team scoring.

In the 1.5-mile middle school race, Harbor School student Graham Peet out-kicked Seattle Christian’s Andrew Stoogaard at the finish line to take first place with a time of 10:39. Nathan Williams, representing McMurray Middle School, placed fourth with a time of 11:13.

In the boys’ JV race, Max Johnson, DJ Barnes and Casey Gripp ran their fastest times of their season on the 3.1-mile course.

The girls’ varsity race saw Savannah Krug place third overall with a time of 21:42. Maddi Groen also put on a stellar performance, finishing sixth overall, and Victoria Scanlon set a personal best time on the course.

On the boys’ varsity team, Aidan Cyra and Colin Andrus finished fifth and sixth overall; Jack Brenner came in 10th and Kieran Kim-Murphy made his varsity debut with a solid performance as well.

Tomorrow the Pirate cross country team will be at full strength as they travel to Fort Steilacoom in Lakewood for the Nisqually League championship meet. The meet will be attended by all schools in the league, and at the end of the day the Nisqually league team champion trophy will be awarded.

On Saturday, Oct. 30, the team will attend the West Side Classic, the tri-district championships at American Lake in Tacoma. The top 25 individuals and top five teams overall at that meet will advance to the state cross country meet in Pasco.

— Kevin Ross is the coach of the Vashon High School boys cross country team.