Coupeville cross country put five runners in the top 10 at Thursday’s league championship meet. (Elizabeth Bitting photo)
It came down to the wire.
The Coupeville High School boys’ cross country team put four runners in the top nine Thursday at the Northwest 2B/1B League Championships but missed out on a team title by a single point.
Host Mount Vernon Christian held off the Wolves 39-40, while the Hurricane girls also edged Coupeville for the team crown by a 22-33 margin.
“What a rush!” said Coupeville coach Elizabeth Bitting. “To be separated by one point at the league championship is a testament to the hard work all these runners in our league put in.
“ONE POINT! They gave it their all!”
Runners from six schools competed on the 5,000-meter course, with Friday Harbor (66), Orcas Island (93) and Evangel Classical (114) rounding out the battle for the boys’ team title.
Only MVC and Coupeville fielded full rosters in the girl’s race.
Overall, 46 boys and 21 girls hit the tape, with Isaac Betz and Evangeline Fikkert of MVC capturing individual crowns.
Coupeville sophomore Noelle Western and junior Carson Field topped their squad, both claiming 4th place.
George Spear (5th), Ezekiel Allen (8th), and Landon Roberts (9th) also cracked the top 10, while eight of the nine Wolves who ran at last year’s NWL Championships set a PR this time around.
“Having four boys in the top 10 and one girl is amazing,” Bitting said. “They pushed themselves and it showed.”
Next up for the Wolves is Tri-Districts, which brings together harriers from District 1, 2, and 3 in a battle royal Thursday, Oct. 26 at Fort Steilacoom Park in Lakewood.
The top four girls’ teams and top two boys’ teams at that event advance to the state meet Nov. 4 in Pasco.
If your team doesn’t qualify, you can still punch your ticket to the big dance as an individual.
The top 28 girls and top 14 boys earn slots.
“They gotta bring it next Thursday!” Bitting said, as she mentally mapped out a week of practice in advance of Tri-Districts.
Thursday results:
GIRLS:
Noelle Western (4th) 23:49.66
Aleksia Jump (12th) 25:52.64
Ari Armstrong (15th) 28:27.34
Reagan Callahan (17th) 28:42.27
Erica McGrath (18th) 28:42.55
BOYS:
Carson Field (4th) 18:41.03
George Spear (5th) 19:00.47
Ezekiel Allen (8th) 19:14.32
Landon Roberts (9th) 19:20.29
Kenneth Jacobsen (14th) 19:46.69
Thomas Strelow (17th) 20:35.55
Nicholas Wasik (26th) 21:20.54
Axel Marshall (28th) 21:29.55
Preston Howard (29th) 21:30.61
Santi Ojeda (33rd) 21:52.93
Damy Giacobbe (43rd) 29:31.26
Coupeville Sports 
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