The Vashon Pirate cross country team is off and running. Normally this fall sport involves running through leaves on  damp, cool days. However, this was not the case on Thursday, Sept. 8, at Fort Steilacoom, where summer was in full force at 86 degrees at race time.

Both the girls and boys teams competed well for their first race of the season, where they went up against five other high schools. For some it was the first race of their career.

The boys took fourth out of six teams, and the girls took third out of six teams.

This year’s cross country team includes 11 boys, six girls and three middle school runners.

Returning for the boys team are Ryan Krug, Codi Williams, DJ Barnes and Kenese Parker, who is the lone senior. Newcomers to the program are Philip Vandevanter, Aaron Kitchener, Sage Levin and Nathan Williams, who participated in middle school cross country.

The boy’s team is rounded out with two exchange students: Magnus Walgren from Sweden and Daniel Schwarz from Liechtenstein.

Returning for the girls team are Peri Roberts and Erica Walker, who are seniors. Joining them for another season of cross country are Madi Groen and Lydia Houston. The newcomers for the girls program are Anna Ripley and Ella Maierhofer.

Representing the McMurray Mustangs for middle school cross country are Eva Cyra, Camryn Kim-Murphy and Jeffrey Parrish.

Tomorrow the Pirates will host Orting and Life Christian for a meet on the VHS campus. Vashon’s cross country course loops around the high school and McMurray ball fields, along with sections of wooded trails. The meet kicks off with a 3K (1.8-mile) middle school race at 3:40 p.m., followed by the 5K (3.1-mile) boys and girls high school races.

— Kevin Ross is a cross country coach at Vashon High School.