Running on their home course with most of their team in tow, Sequim’s cross country squads earned their first league dual meet victories of the season on Oct. 3 in the friendly, hilly confines of Robin Hill County Park.

The bigger postseason tests, however, are just a few days away.

Sequim senior Murray Bingham led a top-five sweep in the boys race while SHS freshman Riley Pyeatt dominated the girls race as the Wolves knocked off the visiting Olympic Trojans and Port Townsend Redhawks.

See more photos from the meet here.

The boys’ race was a bit of a disappointment, Sequim coach Harold Huff said, with a pair of key league racers out of action: Sequim’s Alec Shingleton, who is dealing with a leg injury, and Port Townsend’s Nathan Cantrell, the Nike Twilight XC Invitational champ who was held out after running a number of invitationals in recent days.

“We still ran a good race, top to bottom,” Huff said. “Everyone’s effort was excellent.”

Bingham finished the 5,000-meter, hill-laden course in 17:26. Teammate Liam Byrne was second with an 18:23 finished, followed by Wolves Jazen Baree (third, 19:31), Koda Robinson (fourth, 19:42), Fischer Jensen (fifth, 20:04), Jakob Pyeatt (seventh, 20:18), Charlie Logan (11th, 21:05) and Carson Holt (12th, 21:11).

Sequim’s boys earned a perfect meet score of 15, easily out-pacing Olympic (57) and Port Townsend (65).

Bingham has posted top-five finishes in all but one race this season — he was sixth out of 347 runners at Seaside’s Three-Course Challenge — after a summer that he averaged about 60 miles per week, often running six miles in the morning and eight in the evening.

“I definitely want to make it to state and place this year,” Bingham said. A bigger goal, he noted, is finishing a 5k in under 16 minutes.

Riley Pyeatt led the girls’ race from start to finish, crossing the finish line more than three minutes ahead of the pack at 21:20.

Sequim’s Jessica German was second in 24:42 and Eleanor Byrne was third in 25:10. Sequim’s Emily Silve placed sixth (27:04), backed by teammates Aidyn Shingleton (eighth, 27:19), Taylor Coleman (ninth, 27:59) and Katelynn Glass (10th, 28:00).

The Sequim girls tallied 19 team points to Olympic’s 42; Port Townsend had just two runners and didn’t’ score.

“The girls had awesome practices and they’re healthy,” Huff said.

The Wolves are at Bremerton Oct. 10 to take on North Mason and the host Knights in their final tune-up for the postseason.

Sequim competes at the Olympic League championship on Thursday, Oct. 18, in Port Townsend, with top finishers moving on to the Westside Classic district meet set for Oct. 27 in University Place.

Huff said he held Sequim runners out of a scheduled invitational — the Curtis Invitational on Sept. 29 — to spare his squad some wear and tear as they seek postseason berths.

“They’re not as apt to get sick,” the Sequim coach said.

Shingleton, who was at last week’s meet to cheer his teammates on, is a key racer in the Wolves’ postseason plans if they hope to advance the boys’ team to state, Sequim coaches said.

“We’ll keep our fingers crossed we get Alec back,” Huff said. “He’s not missed a lot of training.”

The state 2A meet is Nov. 3 in Pasco.

Sequim sweeps middle school races

A pair of deep Sequim Middle school cross country squads swept the team standings and nabbed second place individual finishes at the joint cross country meet with high school squads at Robin Hill County Park on Oct. 3.

Taryn Johnson led Sequim’s Timberwolf girls squad with a 9:38 finish for the two-mile course, about 37 seconds back of meet champ Kiera Johnson of Forks. Sequim’s Olivia Duran was third at 9:40, about two seconds back of her teammate, while Timberwolves snagged finishes 6-10. Forks and Kingston both had just four runners each and didn’t qualify to score in the team standings.

On the boys’ side, Sequim’s Kylle Tiaga raced to an 8:28 finish for second place, about 25 seconds back of Forks’ Jesus Dominguez, as the Timberwolves (20 team points) earned a big win over Forks (56) and Kingston (61). Sequim swept places 3-7, including runners Owen Randall (8:48), Aaron Tolberd (8:56), Colby Ellofson (9:00), Garrett Little (9:05) and Keaton King (9:06).

Sequim freshman Riley Pyeatt builds a commanding lead less that halfway through the Oct. 4 league meet against Olympic and Port Townsend. Pyeatt helped the Wolves notch their first league victories last week at SHS’s home course at Robin Hill County Park. Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell

Sequim runners Liam Byrne, Murray Bingham and Jazen Bartee (second, third and fourth from left) lead the Wolves to a league victory over Olympic and Port Townsend on Oct. 4 at Robin Hill County Park in Sequim, with Bingham (17:26) taking first place overall, Byrne second and Bartee third. Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell

Sequim’s Jakob Pyeatt, left, and Fischer Jensen, make their way up meadow hill at Robin Hill County Park on Oct. 4. Jensen was fifth and Pyeatt seventh as the Wolves swept Olympic and Port Townsend. Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell

Sequim’s Trey Brouillard, center, competes against Olympic and Port Townsend at Robin Hill County Park on Oct. 4. Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell