By LAURA JOHNSON

For The Beachcomber

Two Pirate cross-country runners will compete at the state level, after placing in the top 30 competitors at the tri-district meet on Saturday. The meet was held at the American Lake Golf Course, with 17 schools — more than 200 runners — represented.

After finishing third in league, the Pirate girls team ran a solid race, and the Vashon team came in ninth. Savannah Krug, sophomore, placed 15th, and Leigh Sheridan, also a sophomore, placed 26th, both winning a place in the state competition in Pasco on Saturday, Nov. 8.

Runners competing Saturday for the girls included Krug, Sheridan, and freshmen Lindsay Straube, Peri Roberts and Erica Walker. With such a young team and blossoming talent, the girls team looks forward to an even stronger season next fall.

The boys team was also coming off a third-place finish in the league meet and anticipated a strong race.

Like the girls, the boys have a young team with much potential and ran a competitive, smart race. Highlights of the day included a 27th-place finish from sophomore Jackson McFall, who led the team with a time of 17:46 for the 5 kilometer (3.1 mile) rolling course, and the next four teammates following with just 1:15 separating the five, evidencing the strength of unity they share. The team had seven runners on Saturday’s muddy race — Jackson, juniors Cole Grabow and Ramsey Walker, and sophomores Colin Andrus, James Spencer, Aidan Cyra and Maximo Mandl.

Watch for big things next fall as both teams mature and increase in confidence and skill.

— Laura Johnson coaches the girls cross-country team.