Coupeville Sports

   CHS junior Danny Conlisk is one of three Wolf cross country runners who will train and travel with South Whidbey this fall. (Dawnelle Conlisk photo)

The trail is long and winding, and they have many miles to go.

For a second straight season, Coupeville High School will be back in the cross country game — but without a team based out of its own campus.

The Wolves will send senior Henry Wynn, junior Danny Conlisk and freshman Sam Wynn down the Island to train and travel with South Whidbey.

The trio will wear CHS uniforms during meets and split from the Falcons for postseason events.

It’s a compromise for now, but there is a substantial push to revive Coupeville’s own cross country program, which has a rich history, including state champions Natasha Bamberger (1985) and Tyler King (2010).

While nothing is set in stone, there have been  indications CHS could restart its own harrier program in 2018, in time for Conlisk’s senior season.

He and Henry Wynn are back for a second season of competing as mercenaries, while Sam Wynn will make his high school debut this season.

Henry Wynn competed in six events last season, topping off his campaign with a PR in the Olympic League Championships and a 26th place finish at districts.

Conlisk, who was bothered by injuries, ran in four events during the 2016 season, and his time of 18 minutes and 36 seconds at the 5,000 meter Nike Twilight Invitational was the best by a Wolf runner.

If the CHS trio compete at every event South Whidbey is scheduled to be at, including a late September trip to a meet in Montana, they would be on target to run in as many as 11 meets this season.

The cross country schedule: 

Wed-Sept. 6 @ River Meadows Run (Arlington)
Sat-Sept. 9 @ Sehome Invitational
Sat-Sept. 16 @ Carl Westling Invitational (South Whidbey)
Sat-Sept. 23 @ Bellevue Cross Country Invitational
Sat-Sept. 30 @ Mountain West Classic (Montana)
Thur-Oct. 5 @ Cascade Conference meet (South Whidbey)
Sat-Oct. 7 @ Nike Hole in the Wall XC Invitational (Lakewood)
Thur-Oct. 12 @ Cascade Conference Meet (Shoreline)
Thur-Oct. 19 @ Olympic League Championships (Sequim)
Sat-Oct. 28 @ Districts (University Place)
Sat-Nov. 4 @ 1A State Meet (Pasco)