Peninsula cross country teams return most of their talent, look to better season with experience

Seahawks have strong chance to improve at state meet

Marques Hunter

of the Gateway

Peninsula High School cross country head coach Joel Wingard said the Seahawks’ boys and girls will be much improved this fall.

Of the 14 varsity runners who competed at the Class 3A state meet last year at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco, four graduated — three from the girls side and just one from the Peninsula boys team.

And that means Peninsula will have a chance to beat last year’s state finishes — 10th at state for the boys, 13th for the girls.

“The expectations are up, and other people are probably aware of us,” Wingard said. “There’s a good core of kids who have trained real hard in the summer. We’ve got the experience. We’ve got kids who have done the training. Now it’s about believing.”

Boys

The Peninsula boys returns six of their seven varsity runners, five of whom are currently seniors.

There’s a potential to crack the top 10, since many of the athletes are in better physical condition. Wingard said there will be some intense competition for the starting seven spots.

“They understand that they can be very good,” Wingard said.

Peninsula senior Chris Borg, who placed 34th at state last year in 16 minutes, 25 seconds, said the Seahawks have the thought of 10th place in the back of their heads, and they’re using that as a building point.

“It’s nice having the experience on the team,” Borg said. “We’ve been together since middle school, and the team camaraderie has been there for a long time.”

Borg said he’s excited to get the season underway. Peninsula will have a chance to see how it matches up with crosstown rival Gig Harbor on Saturday during the Capital Invite in Olympia.

Borg’s confidence may be higher than it has ever been. Last spring, he placed 11th in the 3,200-meter run during the state track and field meet at Mount Tahoma Stadium with a personal-best 9:33.30.

Teammate David Lee said this has to be the biggest season of the graduating class’ high school career. Last year, he finished 25th at the state cross country meet in 16:20.

“I know we’ll be better than last year,” Lee said. “Everybody wants it bad. I’m looking forward to running every race.”

The boys have placed 10th at the state meet two years in a row. Peninsula senior Keegan Hall said the team has logged a lot of miles during the summer and has put in a lot of work.

“Everyone wants to go out on a good note,” Hall said. “The people aren’t going to be different, except for the attitude. We only graduated one senior from our top guys. We all want to do better.”

Girls

The Peninsula girls have a young but talented group of runners coming back from last year. Two of them — sophomore Addi Johnson and junior Kristina Cordy — placed in the top 20 at state with times of less than 20 minutes.

The Seahawks graduated three of their seven varsity runners who advanced to state last year.

Wingard also believes the girls have a good chance of improving on their 13th-place state finish from a year ago.

“We picked up some girls from track and have one transfer who will help us,” Wingard said.

Peninsula senior Hannah George, who placed 85th at state last year in 20:42, said the team is strong this year.

“Every single year, we’ve improved,” George said. “This year, we’re looking to place higher and do better at the invites.”

As a freshman, Johnson finished 12th at the state competition with a lifetime-best 19:04. She said the team has its goals set pretty high.

“Everyone has been working really hard,” Johnson said. “I think everybody wants to do their best, and we’re seeing what’s going to play out.”

Cordy also had her personal best at the state meet last year when she placed 16th in 19:20.

“We have a faster head start on the season,” she said. “I feel like we’re better than last year, and we should do better. We’re working toward it.”

Peninsula cross country

Coach: Joel Wingard

2008 champs: Peninsula boys were undefeated SPSL 3A champions. The Seahawks’ junior varsity also was undefeated in SPSL competition. The girls finished fourth in the SPSL 3A division.

The boys won the SPSL/Western Cascade Conference sub-district meet and the girls placed third. The boys finished third in the West Central/Southwest bi-district meet and placed 10th at the state championships. The girls were sixth at district and 13th at state, respectively.

Key losses: Boys — Ian Hash, who was Peninsula’s No. 3 runner most of the season, and Ryan Mitchell, a valuable leader on the team.

Girls — Audrey Metcalf, a four-year letterwinner, and Lauren-Michelle Arnold. Both were in the team’s top five throughout the season.

Key returners: Boys — state performers Chris Borg, David Lee, Keegan Hall, Jon Maurins, Doug Dunbar and Curtis King, as well as state alternates Mik Moore and Joe Vaughn

Girls — Addi Johnson, Kristina Cordy, Hannah George and Molly Cordy, who performed at state. In addition, Kelly Egge and Rebecca Paradis are coming to cross country after strong initial showings in track.

Newcomers: Boys — Jon Hanisch, a transfer from Nebraska. Girls — Cory Whistler, a transfer from Todd Beamer High School in Federal Way.

Biggest upside: Experience.

Coach prediction: Boys: “I think we can make a run at the league and district championships and improve our place in state,” Wingard said.

Girls: “I think we will be much improved over last year,” he said.

Teams to watch: Boys — Lindbergh, Columbia River and North Kitsap. At the state level, North Central of Spokane and Bellevue.

Girls — Enumclaw and Capital. At the bi-district level, Columbia River and North Kitsap. At the state level, Mercer Island and Glacier Peak.

Biggest meets: The Fort Steilacoom Invite will be a good early season test, and the Sunfair Invitational in Yakima will show Peninsula know it stacks up statewide.

Seahawks' schedule

Sept. 12 Capital Invite 9:45 a.m.

Sept. 16 Peninsula, Clover Park at North Thurston 4 p.m.

Sept. 19 Fort Steilacoom Invitational 9 a.m.

Sept. 23 Yelm, Peninsula, Bonney Lake and Enumclaw at Nolte State Park 4 p.m.

Sept. 30 Sumner, Peninsula at Auburn Mountainview 4 p.m.

Oct. 3 Sunfair Invite at Franklin Park in Yakima noon

Oct. 3 JV Curtis Invitational at Titlow Park in Tacoma 9:30 a.m.

Oct. 7 White River, Franklin Pierce, Peninsula at McCormick Woods in Port Orchard 4 p.m.

Oct. 10 Hole in the Wall at Lakewood High School 9 a.m.

Oct. 14 Peninsula, Clover Park and Lakes at Fort Steilacoom Park 4 p.m.

Oct. 16 Freshman and sophomore classic at Wright Park TBA

Oct. 17 The Classic at Wright Park TBA

Oct. 24 Sub-districts at Fort Steilacoom Park 11 a.m.

Oct. 31 West Central District at American Lake Golf Course TBA

Nov. 7 State at Sun Willows Golf Course 11 a.m.

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