The East Jefferson cross country teams traveled to Lincoln Park in West Seattle on Oct. 21 to compete in their third and final Nisqually League meet of the season.

The other schools in attendance included Vashon Island, Seattle Christian, Life Christian Academy, Annie Wright, Klahowya, Charles Wright Academy, and Bellevue Christian. The looping, convoluted 5k course featured rolling grass terrain, mud, and groomed trail. Inadequate marking and insufficient course monitors led to confusion in both races and several boys ran incorrect distances while all girls completed the wrong distance.

The boys race was the first of the event and was won by senior Will Carroll of Annie Wright in a time of 16:22. East Jefferson’s sophomore Joshua Yearian placed second overall with an impressive finishing sprint and a time of 16:47.1, just out-kicking senior Justyn Peterhans of Bellevue Christian by 0.6 seconds. The Rivals next runners were junior Dustin Hines (19th, 17:54) and sophomore Nico Errichetti (23rd, 18:10).

Freshman Rainier Smith Williams, a recent transplant to Port Townsend, had a solid 5k personal record to place 28th in a time of 18:39. Finishing together in 42nd and 43rd places were sophomores Kepler Edmundson (19:38.2) and Atom Barrett (19:38.7).

The boys team placed 5th of the eight teams present. They look to have a higher placing at the upcoming District Championships when sophomore Noah Isenberg and freshman Zeke Banks return to competition.

The girls race was a debacle with the entire field being misdirected and athletes running between 0.21 and 0.67 miles too far. The Rival’s girls were unable to field a complete team due to illness, but junior Hilina Taylor-Lenz was the top EJ finisher placing 10th with a time of 24:19. Also competing were junior Michael Gregg (14th, 25:01) and sophomore Clara Camp (25th, 28:21).

The next competition for the EJ runners is the JV PR Meet at Bradley Lake Park in which a select handful of athletes will compete. Following that is the Westside Classic which functions as the District Championships and takes place at Chambers Bay Golf Course on November 2nd. Only the top seven runners on any team are eligible to compete. The top three boys teams and 21 individuals and the top two girls teams and 14 individuals from this contest will move on to the 1A State Championships at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco on Nov. 9.

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