Kenneth Jacobsen brought home a top 10 medal Saturday. (Photos courtesy Elizabeth Bitting, Amber Wyman, and Sarah Stuurmans)
She sent a whole pack to the start line.
Coupeville High School cross country coach Elizabeth Bitting had 25 runners compete Saturday at Civic Stadium in Bellingham, solid proof of how much the Wolf harrier program has grown.
The event was the 14th annual Gear Up Northwest XC Preview, hosted by Sehome High School, with 49 teams sending runners careening across the two-mile course.
Keeping things unique, the meet has runners largely compete against athletes from their own class — freshmen vs. freshmen, seniors vs. seniors, and so on.
Seniors (l to r) Landon Roberts, Thomas Strelow, and Carson Field are ready to go.
With so many runners, some of the Wolves were first timers, while always were returning to the site of past glory.
“What a great day!” Bitting said. “So many amazing PR’s!!!!”
Eight of the 11 Coupeville runners who had previously competed at the meet smashed their top times this time around.
“The most impressive PR was Reagan (Callahan). She went from a 20:41 last season to a 17:55 unofficial time this season,” Bitting said.
The Wolfpack invades Bellingham.
CHS senior Thomas Strelow knocked off almost a minute from last year, dropping from 13:34 to a hair under 12:44, while Kenneth Jacobsen nabbed Coupeville’s lone top 10 individual finish.
“Today’s race helped me a lot in seeing where each runner is and how they should be training,” Bitting said. “So many fun firsts for so many, (and a) shout out to Coach (Amber) Wyman for joining us.
“She is always so helpful!”
Wolf coaches Elizabeth Bitting (left) and Amber Wyman find a new friend.
Coupeville returns to action next Saturday, Sept. 21, but the bus trip will be a far shorter one.
The Wolves stay on Whidbey, heading south to Langley for the 45th annual Carl Westling Invitational.
Ava Lucero runs this joint, and she has the starter’s pistol to prove it.
Saturday results:
GIRLS:
Seniors:
Ari Armstrong (100th) 17:00.66
Juniors:
Aleera Kent (52nd) 14:51.96
Noelle Western (93rd) 16:02.41
Aleksia Jump (118th) 17:13.25
Reagan Callahan (132nd) 17:59.58
Dahlia Miller (138th) 18:44.23
Jeann Nitta (139th) 18:44.75
Sophomores:
Kayla Crane (63rd) 15:12.42
Ivy Rudat (84th) 16:04.30
Lydia Price (89th) 16:11.05
Freshmen:
Mikayla Wagner (57th) 15:22.00
Devon Wyman (126th) 17:32.83
Ava Lucero (160th) 20:19.00
Mary Western (167th) 22:14.00
BOYS:
Seniors:
Landon Roberts (82nd) 11:50.81
Carson Field (106th) 12:37.23
Thomas Strelow (110th) 12:43.89
Juniors:
Ezekiel Allen (49th) 11:50.99
George Spear (59th) 12:05.09
Sophomores:
Ethan Walling (132nd) 13:19.53
JV:
Kenneth Jacobsen (8th) 12:03.72
Isaiah Allen (43rd) 13:13.01
Johnathan Jacobsen (83rd) 15:14.12
Beckett Green (86th) 14:07.92
Zach Blitch (136th) 19:31.95
Coupeville Sports 
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