Helen Strelow returns for another crack at capturing cross country glory. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)
Welcome to year five.
It may seem like just yesterday that Coupeville High School reactivated its cross-country program, but here we are, with the Wolves going strong and building on past success.
CHS sent three runners to the state meet a year ago — the program’s best showing since the 1980’s — and all three return for their senior season.
Helen Strelow is the defending Northwest 2B/1B League women’s champ, and she and Claire Mayne helped lead the Wolves to a team title.
Coupeville’s girls came within a single point of advancing to state as a team.
On the boys side of things, Mitchell Hall paced Coupeville to a second-place showing at the league championships, and a third-place finish at tri-districts.
That trio are joined by a strong group of returning runners and newbies.
Sophomores Landon Roberts, Thomas Strelow, and Carson Field are among those expected to have an impact for the Wolves, while George Spear and Zeke Allen are promising freshmen.
Thomas Strelow is part of a group of hard-working Wolf runners.
Perennial powerhouse Mount Vernon Christian is Coupeville’s biggest league rival heading into a new season, but, as always, the Wolf runners largely control their own destiny.
“The goals for this season are to hopefully claim league champions and take as many runners to state as possible,” said Coupeville coach Paige Spangler.
“I really want the athletes to enjoy the season while still working hard and setting several personal records.”
The Wolf running guru, who is in her second year at the helm of the program, is excited to add “new speed work to our training program” to “put us in the best position to win.”
As her harriers prep to kick off their season — they debut at the Sehome Invite Sept. 10 — it’s all about getting better, race by race, practice by practice.
“The team has already shown how much they have improved from last year,” Spangler said. “They are really dedicated and spent their summer working hard.
“Everyone is pacing really quickly and it’s only the second week of the season.”
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