Gig Harbor cross country runners could compete for another 4A title

Tides girls lose state champion, but coach remains optimistic

Marques Hunter

of the Gateway

Gig Harbor Tides cross country head coach Patty Ley is all about preparing her athletes in one form or another.

Ley stood in the middle of a large circle at the high school baseball field last week with a duffle bag full of items. It was a run-through of what to pack for their first meet, which will be Saturday at the Capital Invite in Olympia.

As the athletes stretched, Ley took each item out and explained its purpose. When everything was laid out on the grass, she said there was something missing.

A girl raised her hand and said, “toilet paper.”

The Gig Harbor cross country team returns this season after placing each team in the top 10 at the Class 4A state meet at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco.

Girls

The Gig Harbor girls — led last year by individual state champion Alyssa Andrews, who is currently running for Washington State University — were two points shy of winning the state championship. Eastlake won with 96 points, placing five of its seven runners in the top 25.

But even with Andrews gone and the team without a dominant frontrunner, the Tides believe they’ll be in the running for the state title this fall.

Gig Harbor returns five of its seven varsity runners from last year, including junior Brittany Kealy (23rd at state in 19 minutes, 21:10 seconds) and senior Erin Hull (24th in 19:21.11).

Ley said with the bulk of her team coming back, they are in a better position than they were at the beginning of last year.

“We are bringing experience and depth,” Ley said. “The girls have had some great workouts and are ahead (of where they were) physically.”

Although an individual state champion is unlikely to come out of the Gig Harbor girls program this year, Ley said they’ll surprise a lot of people.

“There’s definitely a number of them who can place in the top 25, and that’s cool,” she said.

Gig Harbor senior Cara Saxon (78th at state last year in 20:10) is looking forward to another successful season.

“I think without having that one frontrunner, we have to push each other,” Saxon said. “We have another year under our belts. We’re ready to go as a team.”

From top to bottom, Ley said the team will be more compact. Many have been running since they were freshmen and have developed over the past three or four years.

One senior looking to make her mark is Becca Lunde, whose personal record of 20:56 came when she was a freshman.

“Everyone is looking pretty strong,” Lunde said. “We’re trying to win state.”

She added that her personal goal is to keep beating her time.

“We don’t have Alyssa (Andrews), so we don’t have a star runner, but I think everyone is getting better,” Lunde said. “Hopefully, that’ll be enough.”

Boys

The Gig Harbor boys had high expectations last year but didn’t quite meet them, even though they finished seventh at the state meet.

Tides senior Conner Peloquin was the only runner to place in the top 25, finishing in 15:55. Because they lost three of their seven varsity runners, Ley said the competition for the remaining slots has been competitive.

“This group is going to be awesome,” Ley said. “They can be giant killers, or just simply let people know they exist.”

The boys varsity team is more wide open than the girls. Ley said there’s an opportunity for just about any runner to grab a spot and make their mark.

“It’ll be interesting to see what decisions they really make about where they’re going to take this team,” Ley said. “There are about six sophomores who can make something happen.”

Peloquin had his best showing at the 3,200-meter state track meet last spring at Mount Tahoma Stadium when he placed second in a lifetime-best 9:05.37.

He and others, like senior Spencer Payne and junior Robby Ubben, will be key leaders in getting the Tides prepared for the big races.

Gig Harbor will have an opportunity to race against Peninsula both at the Capital Invite on Saturday and during the 36th annual Sunfair Invitational on Oct. 3 at Franklin Park in Yakima.

Gig Harbor cross country

Coaches: Head coach Patty Ley, assistant coaches Rich Frazier and Kevin Eager

2008 division champs: The Gig Harbor girls were first in the Narrows League, first at the West Central District meet and second at the Class 4A state meet. The Tides boys were first in league, second at district and seventh in state.

Key losses: Girls — Alyssa Andrews (state champion, captain) and Claire Betterbed (No. 4-5 runner). Boys — Chris Adgar-Beal, Alex Sundell, Jeff Osborn and Nate Funkhouser.

Key returners: Girls — Brittany Kealy (23rd at state as a sophomore,) Erin Hull, Cara Saxon, Kelly Williams, Danie Moon, Maureen Tremblay and Avery Unterreiner.

Boys — Conner Peloquin (13th at state as a junior and Nike Cross Nationals qualifier), Spencer Payne, Robby Ubben and Joe Gagliano.

Newcomers: Girls — Sophomore Sarah Anderson, sophomore Ally Bujacich, sophomore Kristen Murray, sophomore Nikki Carter, Casie Lively, freshman Elise Saxon and others.

Boys — Ley said they’re are a young group, willing to work during the summer.

Captains: Girls — Cara Saxon, Becca Lunde and Erin Hull.

Boys — Conner Peloquin and Spencer Payne.

Coach prediction: “Both teams will really show their best at the end of the season,” Ley said. “They will both have solid showings early, but we will have to go through some growing pains.”

Ley said the Tides girls will again compete for a state championship.

“This will be a tough year with several very tough teams,” she said. “The depth is stronger than in the last couple of years, with four or five teams capable of competing for the state championship. Keeping a tight pack will be the key to success.”

Ley added that the Tides boys should be a Top 10 team at state.

“They should compete for the league championship as well as the district championship,” she said.

Teams to watch: Girls — Eastlake (returns five of seven from state championship team), Stanwood, Eisenhower and Richland

Boys — Olympia, Central Kitsap, Auburn Riverside and Tahoma.

Biggest meets: The South Whidbey Invitational will be a great early test for both teams. The girls field will include Stanwood, Eisenhower, Glacier Peak (Perhaps the best 3A team in the state) and 2A Sehome. The boys field will include Jackson, Auburn Riverside and Eisenhower, which will be an early test to motivate training.

Tides schedule

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

Sept. 16 at Central Kitsap 4 p.m.

Sept. 19 South Whidbey Invite TBA

Sept. 23 at Lincoln 4 p.m.

Sept. 26 Nike Pre-nationals at Eagle Island State Park in Boise, Idaho TBA

Sept. 30 Narrows Varsity and JV Open at Wright Park 4 p.m.

Oct. 3 Sunfair Invite at Yakima 9:30 a.m.

Oct. 7 at Wilson 4 p.m.

Oct. 14 at Bellarmine 4 p.m.

Oct. 17 Tiger Classic at Wright Park 11:30 a.m.

Oct. 21 Narrows League meet at Fort Steilacoom Park 2:30 p.m.

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

Nov. 7 State championships at Sun Willows Golf Course 1 p.m.