At halfway point, Vashon XC runners prepare for their shot at state

The harriers’ season progresses with another large invitational in Arlington at Lakewood High School.

By Bruce Cyra for The Beachcomber • October 4, 2023 1:30 am
Josh Healey (#594) and Cash Nowicki (#595) make their way in the crowd at the John Payne Invitational (Photo by John Decker).
Josh Healey (#594) and Cash Nowicki (#595) make their way in the crowd at the John Payne Invitational (Photo by John Decker).

The Vashon High School Pirate Cross Country teams reached the half-way point of their season last week, racing on their home course and at a large invitational at Chambers Bay in University Place.

On September 26, the Pirates hosted seven other Nisqally League teams on their 5 km home course, starting and ending on the McMurray fields and taking the runners around the three-school property and wooded trails. After an afternoon deluge, the races got underway on a soggy and muddy course.

Leading the women’s team in the first race was senior Captain Madeline Yarkin in 21:34 in second overall, followed by Emily Harrington, Amelia Medeiros and Emma Campbell. A season best was set by sophomore Harrington in her third race of the season. Next up was the men’s race, where the Pirates were led by freshman Josh Healey in 18:45, followed by Brent Calhoun, Ronan Reed, Oli Nielsen, Henry Porter and Jonah Cole. Season bests were set by sophomore Cole and senior Captain Nielsen in his first race of the season.

On September 30, the Pirates traveled to Chambers Bay to race at the large John Payne Invitational. Under cloudy but clearing skies, first up were the men, led by Healey in 17:59, setting a new personal best for 5 km. Healey was followed by Cash Nowicki, Reed and Porter. The women raced next, led by Captain Yarkin, followed by Harrington, Cecelia Guenther, Mederios and Campbell – four of the five setting season bests, which bodes well for qualifying for the State championships at the end of the season.

The Chambers Bay course will be revisited later in the season as the site for the District 3 championships, where all Pirates will attempt to qualify to run at State.

The harriers’ season progresses this coming weekend with another large invitational in Arlington at Lakewood High School, involving 139 schools and more than 2,000 runners from nearby and as far away as British Columbia, Idaho, Oregon, California and Nevada. The course is known to be fast, and is a great opportunity for the Pirates to set personal bests at 5 km.

Bruce Cyra is the cross country coach for Vashon High School.