On Oct. 1 the EJ Rivals cross country teams competed in the second Nisqually League meet at Klahowya.

All of the league teams were present including Annie Wright, Bellevue Christian, Cascade Christian, Vashon, Seattle Christian, Charles Wright, Klahowya, and Life Christian. The 5k course included grass playing fields, paved trail, and trail and the weather was overcast and mild. 

Rivals boys top runners had the opportunity to pace some of their teammates to personal records (PRs). Freshman Zeke Banks had a breakthrough race placing 11th out of 123 runners in a PR of 18:02. Just behind him were sophomore Noah Isenberg (13th, 18:05), junior Dustin Hines (17th, 18:10), and sophomore Joshua Yearian (18th, 18:11). Rounding out the scoring five was sophomore Atom Barrett who finished 37th in a PR of 19:28. The team placed 4th out of the eight teams present.

Due to injury the girls did not have enough runners to score as a team, but junior Hilina Taylor-Lenz was the top EJ finisher of the day with an 8th place finish and a time of 23:03. Freshman Clara Camp, who has been battling illness, was able to have her debut race placing 24th out of forty-four in a time of 26:52.

The teams then traveled to Cedar Crest Golf Course in Marysville on Oct. 5 to compete in the 17th Annual Twilight Invitational sponsored by Nike. The teams both competed in the 1B-2A Varsity divisions covering a 5,000 meter rolling grass course with a net downhill. Junior Leah Ferland led the EJ girls with a PR of 22:05 and an 81st place finish in the field of 213 competitors. She was followed by Taylor-Lenz (88th, PR 22:28) and junior Michael Gregg, who still managed 132nd (23:41) despite a mid-race collision with a pole. Sophomores Camp (176th, PR 25:31) and Kaida Rodrigues (203rd, PR 29:10) rounded out the girls team and allowed them to score as a team for the first time this season. They placed 25th out of the 27 teams present.

The boys race commenced at 6:30 p.m. and was a crowded field of 257 runners including 38 teams.

The Rivals took a 20th place finish overall with sophomores Yearian (52nd, 16:58) and Isenberg (58th, 17:09) again leading their team mates. In a solid performance, fellow sophomore Nico Errichetti placed 88th with a PR time of 17:48 while Barrett was 179th (19:32). Running his first 5k of the season sophomore Kepler Edmundson had a fantastic race setting a PR by nearly two and a half minutes to run 20:21 and place 219th. Freshman Addison Tipton, coming back from illness, ran a good 5k season opener in 21:38 and took 246th place.

The teams will next compete Oct. 10 at the Rainier Invitational, followed by an Oct. 21 at the third Nisqually League meet at Lincoln Park in West Seattle.

Alice Fraser is the head cross country coach and assistant track and field coach for the East Jefferson Rivals.