PHS boys take third at district meet

Chris Borg, David Lee lead PHS team to third place finish

Marques Hunter

of the Gateway

The Peninsula boys cross country team landed a third-place finish last Saturday at the Class 3A West Central District III race, qualifying for this weekend’s state meet.

Lindbergh ran away from the competition with 49 points and North Kitsap placed second, tallying 86. Peninsula had 142 points at American Lake Golf Course in Steilacoom.

Seahawks junior Chris Borg led the team with a ninth-place finish in a career-best time of 16 minutes, 17.8 seconds. Not far behind was his teammate David Lee, who placed 11th (16:21.1).

“From the start, we got out really fast,” Lee said. “It was almost too fast, and at the mile mark, we were regretting it.”

While it wasn’t a career time for Lee, it was his best showing at the American Lake course.

At the 3A state meet last year, Lee finished in the top 50. He’ll get another shot at it Saturday at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco.

“I know I’ll do better this year at state,” Lee said about training over the summer and coming into the season more mentally prepared. “Last year we got 10th in the state, and we have all the same guys back.”

Peninsula senior Ian Hash added a 24th-place finish in a career-best 16:39.

PHS girls take sixth

Peninsula freshman Addi Johnson showed what finishing strong in the last few feet of the race can do.

Johnson placed fifth at the 3A West Central District III cross country race at American Lake Golf Course with a personal-best 19:06.

The Seahawks placed sixth as a team with 168 points. Columbia River won with 83 points.

Johnson was in sixth until the last couple of feet, when she surged past Hillary Norris of Sumner.

“I’m excited to go to state,” she said. “I think we all did well as a team. I really liked this course.”

Peninsula coach Joel Wingard said the team has made a stronger effort to compete against tougher schools.

“They were working hard mid-season, but they just weren’t competing enough,” he said. “They had to hurt a little bit. They’ve progressed all season long.”

Because Peninsula finished sixth, it will send the entire team — seven runners — to the state meet this weekend in Pasco.

Peninsula sophomore Kristina Cordy was the second Seahawks runner to cross the line. She placed eighth in 19:17.4, a career best.

“Last year I kind of played around and wasn’t that serious,” Cordy said. “But this year I raced harder.”

Cordy added that Johnson pushes her to stay positive.

“It was a lot of fun, and I was able to catch up with the front of the pack,” Cordy said.

Seahawks junior Hannah George sprained her ankle at district last year and had a disappointing finish. This year, however, she placed 43rd in 20:41.9.

“The camaraderie is the best part of the team,” she said. “We have a more competitive team this year.”

Reach sports reporter Marques Hunter at 253-853-9246 or by e-mail at marques.hunter@gateline.com.