Coupeville High School cross country coach Natasha Bamberger hangs out with Danny Conlisk at Saturday’s 5000+ runner Nike Hole in the Wall Invitational. (Photo by Dawnelle Conlisk)
The Coupeville Middle School squad, 15 runners, and one coach, strong. (Photos by Morgan White)
Allison Nastali gets cheers from a teammate as she flies across the course.
The Wolves arrived at Lakewood High School early, then hung out in the fog.
“OK, here’s the plan … we’re gonna run really fast, and they’re not gonna catch us.”
There is big, and then there is BIG.
Saturday was all about the capital letters, as 22 Coupeville Middle and High School cross country runners participated in the biggest harrier invite on the West coast.
The Nike Hole in the Wall Cross Country Invitational at Lakewood High School featured more than 5,000 runners, with schools from Alaska, Oregon, California and British Columbia joining their Washington counterparts.
“The atmosphere was ELECTRIC!!!!!,” was how CHS coach Natasha Bamberger, a lifelong big-race runner, described the scene.
The day started early, with the Wolves on the bus and on the road by 6 AM.
“It was an EARLY start!,” said CMS coach Elizabeth Bitting. “We had quiet time on the ride out and most fell asleep.
“Once at the big event it was quiet and foggy, as we were the first of many schools to arrive.”
After suffering in the fall weather at their last meet, Wolf runners came prepared this time around, bringing gloves, running tights and long sleeve undershirts.
The middle school squad sent 15 runners into the heat of battle, while the CHS team numbered seven strong, just missing Kyle Burnett, who was unable to attend the event.
While the Wolves were a speck in a vast sea of runners, both Coupeville coaches were thrilled with what they saw on the course.
“It was an amazing opportunity to compete against all these schools our first year,” Bitting said. “It makes me so proud to see our runners pushing themselves, driving their elbows, extending their strides, passing runners and always having a smile on their face.
“What coach wouldn’t be proud!”
While all 15 middle school runners set PR’s, maybe the biggest story was Helen Strelow, who carved two minutes and seven seconds off her previous best.
The high school runners were just as on point, with Bamberger calling it “the team’s best race yet,” in which “every runner rose to the occasion.”
At the front of the high school pack, sophomore Catherine Lhamon smashed her PR by almost a minute and half, dropping from 22:03 to 20:35.
“My goal has been to get her under 20 for the season, which she and her mom thought would be impossible,” Bamberger said. “She is well on her way in the next couple of weeks!!
“All the way down the line again with PR’s for the team!”
Complete Saturday results:
High School (5000 meters):
GIRLS:
Catherine Lhamon 20:35.3
Alana Mihill 23:54.4
BOYS:
Danny Conlisk 18:04.00
Sam Wynn 19:44.9
Uriah Kastner 22:34.40
TJ Rickner 22:41.60
Chris Ruck 24:29.60
Middle School (1.7 miles):
GIRLS:
Carolyn Lhamon 12:05.7
Claire Mayne 12:27.5
Helen Strelow 12:33.0
Erica McGrath 13:43.7
Cristina McGrath 14:17.0
Sam McMahon 14:27.3
Allison Nastali 14:29.1
BOYS:
Cole White 11:07.1
Hank Milnes 11:16.4
Aiden Anderson 11:54.6
Tate Wyman 12:17.3
Justin Wilkinson 12:20.6
Hayden Harry 12:56.9
Andrew Williams 13:23.5
Alex Clark 15:31.8
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