Vashon runners Savannah Krug and Tylor Heit competed at the State Cross-Country Championship, held Nov. 7 at the Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco.

Though it was a beautiful, sunny morning, the five-kilometer course was marked with brisk, gusty winds at times.

Krug ran a strong race, coming in 28th with a time of 21 minutes, 24 seconds. She beat her time on the same course last year.

The race was close, with the main group of girls packed in tightly through the ending chute. Maddie Meyers, a sophomore from Northwest Christian High School, came in first for the 1A girls, in a time of 18 minutes, 1 second. The next runner came in a full minute and 36 seconds later.

Heit represented the boys team with a 44th-place finish out of 140 runners in the 1A division.

His time was 18 minutes, 1 second. Just after the first mile, he was making a move to pass when he caught another competitor’s spikes on his shin.

After being knocked off stride, he regained his form and gutted out the rest of the race.

“As a sophomore, to come into the state meet and place in the top 50 is a pretty good feat,” said Coach Kevin Ross. “Tylor can be an elite runner in our state in the years to come.”

Another Islander, Linnea Hattery, a junior at Annie Wright School in Tacoma, placed 59th, with a time of 22 minutes, 20 seconds.