Mitchell Hall was the fastest Wolf Saturday. (Jackie Saia photo)
Massive in every way.
The Nike Hole in the Wall Cross Country Invitational takes two days to run, with middle school harriers up on day one, and high school runners toeing the line the next morning.
Saturday, when Coupeville’s older athletes arrived, they represented just one of 137 high schools, hailing from multiple states, in attendance.
With CHS coach Paige Spangler in Chicago to run a marathon, middle school running guru Elizabeth Bitting did double duty, shepherding two packs of Wolves to Lakewood High School in as many days.
Friday Bitting had 30 CMS runners in tow, while Saturday she showed up with 14 CHS harriers.
Along for the ride was her faithful support crew.
“Gotta give a great big shout out and THANK YOU to Amber Wyman for accompanying me both yesterday and today!” Bitting said. “She’s a rock star!!”
The CHS runners traversed a 5,000-meter course, while helping to form a vast caravan of humanity.
“The sound of a stampede of the runners blowing dust all around was an amazing sight!” Bitting said. “Gave me chills each time a race ran past me.
“I love cross country!!”
Even though the weather was a bit compromised by residue from forest fires, the Wolves stood tall (and ran fast) at the biggest event on the annual schedule.
“They ran AMAZING!!” Bitting said. “Again, the weather was warm, dusty, and some residual haze/smoke, but look at those times!
“Hole in the Wall never disappoints!!”
Coupeville has a gap on its schedule, not returning to competition until Oct. 20, when the Wolves head to Mount Vernon for the Northwest 2B/1B League Championships.
Wolf senior Helen Strelow was not able to run Saturday but spent the day snapping photos of her teammates and painting watercolors. (Elizabeth Bitting photo)
Saturday’s results:
GIRLS – Varsity:
Noelle Western 23:51.6
Claire Mayne 24:06.8
Erica McGrath 28:47.3
Reagan Callahan 31:43.3
BOYS – Varsity:
Mitchell Hall 18:41.5
Carson Field 20:14.7
George Spear 20:19.5
Landon Roberts 20:22.8
Thomas Strelow 21:05.7
Tate Wyman 21:18.4
Nic Wasik 22:35.1
BOYS – JV:
Ezekiel Allen 22:45.4
Preston Howard 22:57.1
Easton Green 22:57.9
Coupeville coach Paige Spangler was out of state, but not forgotten. (Elizabeth Bitting photo)
