In another friendly battle of two of the top prep runners in the region, Port Angeles senior Lauren Larson had enough in her final kick to edge Sequim junior Riley Pyeatt at the Olympic League championship on Bainbridge Island on March 13.

The pair built a large gap between themselves and the the pack early on and Larson was able to pull ahead and hold on, Port Angeles coach Rodger Johnson said.

Larson finished the 5,000-meter course in 18:39, her best for the season with direct competition, while Pyeatt also set a personal best season mark with a 19:03 mark.

South Kitsap’s Evelyn Collins-Winn was third (19:11).

Sequim sophomore Anastasia Updike was 24th at 22:39, senior Jessica German was 28th at 23:02 and junior Aidyn Shingleton was 36th (23:58).

In team scores, 3A Central Kitsap won the girls’ race with 38 points while Port Angeles came in fifth with 133 points; Sequim did not have enough runners for a team score.

On the boys’ side, Sequim’s Colby Ellefson also posted a top-10 time, crossing the finish line in just over 17 minutes, good for seventh overall. The Wolf posted the league’s top freshman time, more than a minute faster than North Kitsap frosh Matthew Fee (16th, 18:02).

Sequim teammate Eli Gish, a senior, capped his cross country prep career with a 19th place finish in 18:16.

The Port Angeles boys won the Olympic League championship by a wide margin with 59 points, well ahead of 1A powerhouse Klahowya (83).

Sequim’s boys placed eighth overall with 183 team points.

Other Sequim finishers included a trio of juniors: Henry Hughes (19:15, 42nd), Jaxon Cogburn (19:59, 53rd) and Zack Gufler (22:00, 68th).

The league race, held at Battle Point Park on Bainbridge Island, featured the top seven runners from 11 schools in a modified Olympic League during this COVID-19-affected season, including Sequim, Port Angeles, East Jefferson, Klahowya, Central Kitsap, Bainbridge, North Kitsap, South Kitsap, North Mason, Bremerton and Olympic. It’s the only postseason the prep cross country runners will get this shortened season.

In all, 76 boys and 60 girls ran in the league championship Saturday.

Sequim junior Riley Pyeatt places second at the Olympic League championships on March 13 on Bainbridge Island. Photo by Mark Krulish/North Kitsap Herald

Sequim High senior Eli Gish, left, races in the Olympic League championship race on March 13 at Battle Point Park on Bainbridge Island. He placed 19th. Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell

Sequim High freshman Colby Ellefson, center, races in the Olympic League championship race on March 13 at Battle Point Park on Bainbridge Island. Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell

Sequim High junior Henry Hughes races in the Olympic League championship race on March 13 at Battle Point Park on Bainbridge Island. Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell

Sequim High junior Henry Hughes (50) and other runners break from the starting line at the Olympic League championship race on March 13 at Battle Point Park on Bainbridge Island. Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell

Sequim High junior Zack Gufler races in the Olympic League championship race on March 13 at Battle Point Park on Bainbridge Island. Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell