Peninsula girls cross country team has best performance since 1978 state meet

Two underclassmen place in top 20 at Class 3A state level

Marques Hunter

of the Gateway

PASCO — Despite the inexperience of a young squad, the Peninsula girls cross country team had its best finish in 31 years on Saturday when it placed 13th at the Class 3A state meet at Sun Willows Golf Course.

After placing sixth at the West Central District III meet earlier this month, the Seahawks put two runners in the top 20 at state and scored 265 points. During the 1977 season, Peninsula finished fourth.

Peninsula freshman Addi Johnson, who finished 12th in 19 minutes, 4 seconds, had the second-best time for a first-year runner.

“Once you start, you’re kind of on your own,” she said. “You have to be strong and focused. It gets pretty hard, but you have to have a strong kick at the finish.”

Johnson said she was hoping for a top 20 finish. She said having her teammates with her made her first state experience much better.

“Now I have a better feel for the course,” she said.

The only girl on the team who had any experience at state was Peninsula senior Audrey Metcalf — and she was an alternate in 2005.

“Last time we went here, we got 16 out of 16,” said Metcalf, who placed 113th in 21:45. “It’s nice to beat some teams.”

Shadle Park’s Andrea Nelson won the girls 3A individual competition, and Mercer Island won as a team with 115 points.

Seahawks sophomore Kristina Cordy (16th, 19:20) said she tried to treat the state race like every other race so her nerves didn’t get her psyched out.

“I just tried to stay with Addi and pick off girls one by one,” she said.

Cordy advanced to state in track and field in the 3,200-meter event as a freshman. Cordy said she’s going to miss having practice every day with her teammates. That is, until springtime.

“Hopefully next year we can be in the top 10,” she said. “I think this race was a good experience, because next year I’ll know what to do.”

The Seahawks will lose three varsity runners to graduation next fall, but Peninsula will return six of its top nine runners.

“With two girls in the top 20, we have a lot of work to do behind them,” Peninsula coach Joel Wingard said.

Seahawks junior Hannah George (85th, 20:42) competed at state for the first time and had the third best time for Peninsula. She said the anxiety made her sick.

“I think it’s good we had the whole team,” she said. “We can bring the team back next year and race it even harder and place higher.”