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Posts Tagged ‘Westling Invitational’

“I am so proud and excited!”

Posted in Cross Country, tagged , , , , on September 16, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Landon Roberts is feeling strong as one of Coupeville High School’s cross country captains. (Sherry Bonacci photo)

Whidbey Island was alive with the sound of footsteps Saturday.

The 44th annual Carl Westling Invite in Langley brought out cross country runners, attracting the attention of 29 high schools, including the only one we really care about — Coupeville.

The Wolves had runners in four different races, with harriers pounding across the 3.1-mile course.

“The Westling Invite is always a good one,” said CHS coach Elizabeth Bitting. “It is on island and so many family members and friends are able to attend.”

Several of Coupeville’s runners were making their high school debuts, while virtually everyone nailed PR’s on a sunny, but not too hot day.

On the girl’s side of things, Noelle Western had the best finish, slicing almost two minutes off her time from last year.

Wolf runners (left to right) Aleksia Jump, Erica McGrath, Jasmine Castellanos, Reagan Callahan, Noelle Western, and Ari Armstrong are ready to go. (Elizabeth Bitting photo)

Meanwhile, Coupeville’s top boys — Carson Field, Landon Roberts, and George Spear — all broke 20 minutes and were separated by less than two seconds.

Seeing her runners move as a pack, pushing and supporting each other, warms Bitting’s heart.

“I know it’s still very early on in the season, but I am so proud and excited for each and every athlete that ran today,” she said.

“They are working hard during practice, they are putting in the miles, working in the weight room and their hard work is paying off,” Bitting added.

“Now to keep them healthy!”

Coupeville returns to action next Saturday, Sept. 23 when it travels to Shoreline for the King’s Roller Coaster Trail Run.

The Wolves were supposed to also compete midweek, but a three-team meet on Orcas Island was cancelled “due to an unavoidable event.”

 

Saturday results:

 

GIRLS:

Varsity:

Noelle Western (46th) 24:55.47
Ari Armstrong (72nd) 28:29.04
Aleksia Jump (75th) 29:01.89
Reagan Callahan (78th) 31:31.49
Erica McGrath (79th) 32:48.97

 

BOYS:

Varsity:

Carson Field (61st) 19:53.11
Landon Roberts (62nd) 19:54.21
George Spear (63rd) 19:54.76
Ezekiel Allen (71st) 20:33.41
Thomas Strelow (79th) 21:14.84
Kenneth Jacobsen (82nd) 21:21.15
Nicholas Wasik (91st) 22:26.79

 

JV – Level 1

Preston Howard (144th) 22:46.65
Axel Marshall (146th) 22:52.79

 

JV – Level 2

Zach Blitch (198th) 33:04.22

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Everybody wants to rule the woods

Posted in Cross Country, Middle School, tagged , , , , on September 17, 2022| Leave a Comment »

Tirsit Cannon blazes a trail of success. (Jackie Saia photos)

Into the woods they go.

Coupeville Middle School cross country guru Elizabeth Bitting brought her runners to their first meet of the season Saturday in Langley.

And hopefully she had the big bus, as the Wolves sent 31(!) runners to the line at the 43rd annual Carl Westling Invite.

That’s an astonishing number for a program at a small school, and there’s talent to go with the roster depth.

Paced by four top-10 finishers, the Wolf girls claimed 2nd place out of five middle school teams in action, including beating host South Whidbey — a traditional powerhouse — for the first time ever at this event.

“They did AMAZING!!!!!!,” Bitting said. “Today’s goal was to have a good time and I think that goal was accomplished!”

The Wolf boys were strong as well on the 3,000-meter course, finishing 3rd on their side of the books, while King’s captured team titles for both genders.

Coupeville gets a chance to chase after the private school titans another time, with a trip to the King’s Invite set for next Saturday, Sept. 24.

Avery Eelkema (left) and Ossian Merkel attack the trail, fists at the ready just in case they need to throw down with any rival teams.

 

Saturday’s results:

 

GIRLS:

Lydia Price (6th) 14:18
Laken Simpson (7th) 14:30
Olivia Hall (8th) 14:33
Mikayla Wagner (9th) 14:42
Tirsit Cannon (17th) 15:38
Ivy Rudat (18th) 15:48
Marin Winger (19th) 15:59
Sage Stavros (20th) 16:05
Allie Powers (25th) 17:40
Mary Western (33rd) 18:51
Devon Wyman (34th) 18:51
Camilla Wolfe (39th) 19:23
Arianna Cunningham (45th) 20:08
Elizabeth Marshall (48th) 20:33
Hailey Goldman (49th) 20:36
Maci Wofford (51st) 21:32
Alexandra Lo (53rd) 21:38
Amelia Crowder (54th) 23:11
Savannah Niewald (55th) 23:16
Emma McFadden (57th) 25:14

 

BOYS:

Axel Marshall (7th) 12:28
Beckett Green (9th) 13:01
Kenneth Jacobsen (15th) 13:32
Nathan Niewald (18th) 14:17
Cyrus Sparacio (20th) 14:30
Max Ohme (31st) 15:40
Avery Eelkema (39th) 17:06
Ossian Merkel (40th) 17:06
Johnathan Jacobsen (44th) 18:14
Zach Blitch (46th) 18:28
Isaiah Allen (49th) 18:36

Beckett Green visualizes the finish line.

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Wolves run in Falcon territory

Posted in Cross Country, tagged , , , , on September 17, 2022| Leave a Comment »

Coupeville freshman Noelle Western flies down the path. (Jackie Saia photos)

The ground trembled.

Footsteps echoed through the woods Saturday, as the Coupeville High School cross country squad competed at the 43rd annual Carl Westling Invite in Langley.

The massive harrier event, hosted by South Whidbey, drew 33 high school teams, plus a pack of middle school programs.

Coupeville sent 16 runners to the line, with seniors Mitchell Hall and Claire Mayne nabbing the fastest times for the Wolves on the 5,000-meter course.

The Wolves get a 2-for-1 special next week, running Wednesday, Sept. 21 and Saturday, Sept. 24.

First up is a Northwest 2B/1B League meet on Orcas Island, with the weekend bringing the King’s Invite.

Nick Wasik spends some quality time with his phone before Saturday’s race.

 

Saturday’s results:

 

GIRLS:

Varsity:

Claire Mayne (61st) 24:49.72
Noelle Western (72nd) 26:00.78
Cristina McGrath (82nd) 26:53.86
Helen Strelow (86th) 27:44.66
Erica McGrath (93rd) 30:10.66

 

JV:

Reagan Callahan (121st) 29:08.35

 

BOYS:

Varsity:

Mitchell Hall (62nd) 19:22.15
Carson Field (78th) 20:12.37
Thomas Strelow (86th) 20:40.79
George Spear (88th) 20:46.43
Landon Roberts (90th) 21:04.58
Preston Howard (103rd) 22:16.10
Nick Wasik (110th) 23:07.18

 

JV:

Tate Wyman (49th) 22:26.69
Easton Green (91st) 23:38.22
Ezekiel Allen (115th) 24:13.22

Preston Howard is on the move.

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Big meet, strong start

Posted in Cross Country, tagged , , , , on September 18, 2021| Leave a Comment »

Helen Strelow was the top Coupeville girl Saturday at the 29-team Carl Westling Invitational in Langley. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

They ran with the big boys (and girls).

The Coupeville High School cross country team kicked off a new season Saturday with an appearance at the 42nd annual Carl Westling Invitational in Langley.

A day before, a storm ripped across Whidbey with ferocious winds turning the power off for much of the island.

But Saturday was fairly tranquil, offering the Wolves and first-year coach Paige Spangler a chance to strut their stuff.

Coupeville sent three girls to the line in the varsity race, while fielding a full seven-man varsity team and two runners in the JV rumble.

The Wolf boys held up very well, finishing 11th out of 13 teams in their division, despite the other squads all repping schools with larger student bodies.

Coupeville was the lone 2B team, with eight 1A schools, three 2A schools, and 4A Mariner also competing.

2A Cedarcrest claimed the team title, while Will Geisen of 2A Bellingham captured the individual crown, covering 5,000 meters in 16 minutes, 51.60 seconds.

On the girls side, Bellingham was the top team, with Kayla Aalpoel of 1A Meridian the first runner across the line in 19:20.70.

All together, the invitational featured runners from 29 high schools, while five middle schools competed in their own races.

 

Complete CHS results (5,000 meters):

 

GIRLS – Varsity:

Helen Strelow (65th) 26:21.00
Claire Mayne (74th) 30:30.10
Erica McGrath (75th) 34:40.40

 

BOYS – Varsity:

Mitchell Hall (54th) 20:05.80
Landon Roberts (64th) 20:35.80
Carson Field (65th) 20:37.90
Cole White (71st) 20:57.10
Thomas Strelow (76th) 21:17.90
Hank Milnes (80th) 21:28.00
Reiley Araceley (88th) 22:40.70

 

BOYS — JV:

Nick Wasik (84th) 24:25.80
Alex Clark (145th) 29:15.70

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Young harriers bolt to glory

Posted in Cross Country, Middle School, tagged , , , , on September 18, 2021| Leave a Comment »

Noelle Western was Coupeville’s fastest girl Saturday at the Westling Invitational. (Elizabeth Bitting photo)

“They did awesome! We may be small in numbers but we’re large in heart!!!”

A new season of Coupeville Middle School cross country dawned Saturday, and brought all the joy back to Wolf coach Elizabeth Bitting’s heart.

A day after rain and wind (mostly wind) buffeted Whidbey Island, the weather cooperated, and 10 CMS runners got their first chance to step to the line at a real competition.

The event was the Carl Westling Invitational in Langley, the 42nd edition of Whidbey’s premier gathering of harriers.

“What a beautiful day for the first race of the Coupeville Middle School cross country season!,” Bitting said. “No rain, no wind, and we had power!

“There were nerves, anxious feet, lots of questions, and loads of PR’s!!!”

The Wolf girls were up first, and her runners immediately made Bitting proud.

“Once that starting gun went off all nerves, doubts and fears faded, and all we saw were some determined runners!,” she said.

“I am so proud of what each of these runners accomplished at this, their first race,” Bitting added. “I cannot wait to see what the season brings! GO WOLVES!!!”

 

Complete CMS results (3,000 meters):

 

GIRLS:

Noelle Western (10th) 15:00.10
Mikayla Wagner (11th) 15:04.80
Aleksia Jump (20th) 17:22.70
Marin Winger (21st) 17:43.50
Laken Simpson (22nd) 17:45.90
Emma McFadden (27th) 21:04.90
Mary Western (31st) 22:45.80

 

BOYS:

Easton Green (9th) 13:48.20
Beckett Green (11th) 14:06.00
Wyatt Fitch-Marron (17th) 15:22.40

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