Kaitlyn Bloomenrader and the Wolves’ girls cross country are hoping to peak at the right time. Last week’s league meet was a collective stride in that direction.
Bloomenrader broke the 20-minute barrier for the first time as she raced to a sixth place finish, at the Olympic League championships, held Oct. 20 at The Cedars at Dungeness golf course, helping the Wolves place third overall.
The Wolves finished behind only league champ Bainbridge, a 3A school, and North Kitsap — and advanced as a team to this week’s West Central District meet.
Five Sequim boys are also headed to districts despite not qualifying as a team.
Six runners in the girls’ varsity race clocked in under 20 minutes at the league final.
“I felt like a hit a wall,” Bloomenrader said of the 20-minute mark. She came closest at last year’s state 2A meet, when she placed 20th at 20:01.
“She had a good run; it’s a milestone for her,” SHS assistant coach BJ Schade said.
“And Liberty’s not too far behind.”
Sequim sophomore Liberty Mavy set a personal best by more than 70 seconds with a 12th place run in 20:42. Her junior sister, Sadie, finished 22nd in 22:34, a 15-second personal best, while Ahrya Klinger, a freshman, finished 30th in 23:54, another personal best. SHS sophomore Aspen Goldner beat her own personal best by more than a minute with a 24:40 finish, good for 35th overall.
Schade said he’s seen some good leadership from Goldner in practice.
“She’s been leading that second group; that’s been nice to see,” Schade said.
Sequim’s boys, missing ace Colby Ellefson due to a lingering injury, placed eighth out of nine teams in what Schade called an extremely competitive race.
“That was a fast race; there were a lot of runners in the low 16s,” he said. “It’s a pretty solid league.”
SHS senior Owen Randall led a pack of five Wolves qualifying for the district meet after placing 13th overall in a personal best 17:14.
Sequim freshman Colin Feik added a 28th place finish, completing the 5,000-meter course in 18:02 — a 43-second personal best.
They’ll be joined at districts by SHS senior Calem Klinger, who took 30th at the league final in 18:10, followed by sophomore teammates James Mason (18:30, 34th) and Sean Southard (42nd, 19:04).
The West Central District meet is set for Saturday, Oct. 29, at the Chambers Bay Properties in University Place.
The top six girls teams and 42 individuals, along with top five boys teams and 35 individuals from districts advance to the state 2A meet, set for Saturday, Nov. 5, at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco.
Sequim’s Calem Klinger, left, and James Mason race in the Olympic League cross country championships at The Cedars at Dungeness golf course on Oct. 20. Both set personal bests at the meet.
Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell / Sequim High sophomore Liberty Mavy places 12th at the Olympic League cross country championships on Oct. 20, helping the Wolves place third overall and qualify as a team for the West Central District meet.
Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell / Sequim High freshman Ahrya Klinger places 30th at the Olympic League cross country championships on Oct. 20, helping the Wolves place third overall and qualify as a team for the West Central District meet.
