Last weekend the Vashon High School cross-country team competed against a large contingent of runners from 20 other schools at the 1A Tri-District cross country meet, also called the Westside Classic.

The Pirates fell short of qualifying for State at the Saturday meet. But Vashon runners showed teamwork, determination and grit on the wet and windy 5k course at the American Lake Golf Course in Tacoma. Perhaps most notably, freshman runner Callan Foster was a true team player as she ran on a sore ankle so she could be the fifth runner required for the girls to score as a team.

The Vashon girls placed 17th out of 19 girls teams at the meet, and the boys placed 18th of 20. VHS exchange student Kanit Jungsakulrujire, from Thailand, ran one of his best races of the year, pushing through the pack in the last mile to help the boys’ cause.

In the end, Charles Wright took the district title for the boys, and Meridian High School took the   championship for the girls.

Graham Peet, a Vashon sophomore who runs for The Northwest School, qualified to attend State at the Tri-District meet. Peet placed fifth out of 140 runners with a time of 16:32. He will represent The Northwest School at the state cross country meet this weekend in Pasco.

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