Ivy Rudat zips through the woods. (Jackie Saia photos)
They are Wolves, hear them roar.
The Coupeville Middle School girls cross country team defended its home turf Wednesday, winning a seven-team meet at Fort Casey State Park.
Elizabeth Bitting’s pack of gung-ho runners held off traditional powerhouses King’s and South Whidbey to claim the team title, placing three harriers in the top 10.
The Wolf boys finished third, with King’s on top of the leaderboard.
Granite Falls, Northshore Christian Academy, Sultan, and Lakewood rounded out the field, with 161 runners hitting the finish line during the 1.5-mile race.
Wednesday’s rumble in the woods was a preview of the season finale, as the same seven teams travel to South Whidbey Tuesday, Oct. 18 for the Cascade League Championships.
Coupeville’s runners wore pink wrist bands to show their support for the fight against breast cancer, and the meet was the first home one for the revived Wolf cross country program.
With Athletic Director Willie Smith off on an annual hunting trip, Bitting got huge help from Aimee Bishop, Barbi Ford, and Bob Martin, among many, and the event was a major success.
“It finally happened!” Bitting said. “The afternoon was beautiful! The sun was out, there was a slight breeze, and the crowds came out to cheer on all runners.
“Each and every one of our runners set a PR for our home course,” she added.
“I am so proud of each and every one of them!!!”
Kenneth Jacobsen was the fastest Wolf boy Wednesday afternoon.
Wednesday’s results:
GIRLS:
Lydia Price (6th) 10:19
Olivia Hall (8th) 10:40
Mikayla Wagner (9th) 10:41
Laken Simpson (12th) 11:16
Tirsit Cannon (14th) 11:31
Ivy Rudat (19th) 11:47
Marin Winger (22nd) 11:55
Allie Powers (25th) 12:27
Sage Stavros (26th) 12:33
Devon Wyman (49th) 14:06
Hailey Goldman (51st) 14:13
Arianna Cunningham (53rd) 14:35
Mary Western (54th) 14:37
Maci Wofford (60th) 15:55
Camilla Wolfe (64th) 17:06
Elizabeth Marshall (65th) 17:08
Emma McFadden (67th) 17:28
Alexandra Lo (73rd) 20:42
Savannah Niewald (74th) 20:56
BOYS:
Kenneth Jacobsen (11th) 9:38
Beckett Green (14th) 9:49
Axel Marshall (20th) 10:06
Roger Merino-Martinez (21st) 10:26
Nathan Niewald (24th) 10:36
Cyrus Sparacio (32nd) 10:57
Max Ohme (38th) 11:17
Johnathan Jacobsen (62nd) 13:07
Dylan Robinett (64th) 13:14
Isaiah Allen (70th) 13:45
Zach Blitch (73rd) 13:53
Andre Volanos-Gerber (78th) 15:30
Avery Eelkema (80th) 15:51
Zach Blitch guns for the finish line.
Coupeville Sports 