Most Wolves PR at league meet / Cross country

By Jim Waller • October 22, 2018 1:30 am

Saving their best for the biggest meet so far this season, the Coupeville High School cross country runners posted a handful of personal records at the North Sound Conference Championship Saturday, Oct. 20, at Lakewood High School.

“It was an amazing day for the team,” coach Natasha Bamberger said. “I was thrilled with the team’s effort and personal results.”

Coupeville, participating as a school in cross country or the first time in 20 years, placed fifth out of six schools in the North Sound Conference team boys standings.

Only one Wolf, Alana Mihill, ran in the girls race; therefore, Coupeville did not qualify for a team score, which requires five runners.

Coupeville’s top female runner, Catherine Lhamon, is injured but should return next week for the bi-district meet.

Milhill, a freshman, finished 16th out of 28 in the 5,000-meter girls race in a personal best 23:22.

Naomi Smith of King’s won the race in 17:46.1, and the Knights won the team title with 27 points.

Danny Conlisk led the Coupeville boys by taking 19th out of 79 in 18:08.4. Granite Falls’ Isaac Cortes won in 16:12.7, and South Whidbey took the team crown with 34 points. Coupeville tallied 132.

Conlisk, whose time was 18 seconds off his PR, led the first lap before slipping to 19th, according to Bamberger.

Sam Wynn took 33rd (19:16.4), TJ Rickner 55th (21:13.5), Uriah Kastner 58th (21:31.4), Kyle Burnett 66th (22:46.1) and Chris Ruck 70th (23:53.9) — all personal records.

“Sam Wynn really came into his own this season, especially these last three weeks,” Bamberger said.

The bi-district meet is 12:40 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, at South Whidbey High School.

The top six girls teams and 42 individuals and the top five boys teams and 35 individuals will qualify for the state meet.

Lhamon, Mihill and Conlisk are currently ranked within the state-qualifying range, and Wynn sits just outside.

“It will be a dream to send these four runners to state our first season as a team,” Bamberger said. “They have trained hard, competed very well for such a young team at very large invitationals all season long, and, most notably, came together as a very close team.

“To go to state would cap off an amazing first season for Coupeville and speaks for great things to come for Coupeville cross country.

“What a gift this season has been.”