Bainbridge cross country steps it up at Battle Point Park
Published 9:40 pm Friday, September 27, 2013
Students of the Bainbridge Island Spartan cross country team ran hard and secured a number of top finisher spots for both the girls and boys teams at a 5K match they hosted at Battle Point Park on Wednesday, Sept. 25.
Athletes from North Kitsap, Bremerton, Port Townsend, Eastside Catholic, Ingraham, Chief Sealth and Cleveland high schools ran in the event. Bainbridge finished the meet with seven of the top 18 girl finishers, and seven of the top 16 boy finishers.
Explosive starts are typically rare during the first few meets of the season, a cautionary measure taken by coaches to ensure the runners don’t wear out too early. Sometimes the schedule allows some breathing room, and the pace can safely be sped up.
“It’s really early in the season,” said Bainbridge Assistant Coach Rick Peters. “Every athlete approaches the early games with vision toward the league meets in the end of October.”
According to Peters, if the team has several meets within a few days of each other, coaches may caution a runner to hold back and save something for the later events. Since the Spartans had no second meet this week the team’s mindset was to go all out.
“There’s nothing on Saturday,” he said. “So go ahead and push it.”
When discussing the concept of home field advantage, and if such a thing can exist in a sport like cross country, the runners are of varied opinions.
Most do agree, however, that course familiarity is essential.
“I think that there is,” said Bainbridge junior Joaquin Gurza. “We run here all the time.”
Other runners say the key to a better course time is to break the route up into smaller parts.
“I look at it like small little building blocks,” said Bainbridge freshman Jackson Patrick. “I take it a half mile at a time.”
Coach Peters is more skeptical of home field advantage. Is there such a thing?
“Yes,” he said. “Except when someone is faster than you.”
The Spartans compete in their next meet at Seattle Preparatory School at 3:40 p.m. on Wednseday, Oct. 2.
TOP FINISHERS (MEN)
1. Matt Siegel, EC 16:54
2. Ryan Clarke, PT 17:07
3. Austin Harper, BI 17:22
4. Nick Entress, BI 17:33
5. Kirby McDermott, IN 17:36
6. Patrick McDermott, IN 17:36
7. Dutton Polk, NK 17:44
8. Josh Burton, BR 18:02
9. Keith Carlson, BI 18:18
10. Arthur Bacon, BI 18:25
11. Melese Crowley, NK 18:25
12. Sean Simonsen, BI 18:29
13. Kyle Grambihler EC, 18:35
14. Kawin Nikomborirak, BI 18:40
15. Mohammed Idris, CS 18:42
16. Devon Reynolds, BI 18:45
TOP FINISHERS (WOMEN)
1. Kathleen Ramsey NK, 20:06
2. Clara Lund NK, 20:39
3, Signe Lindquist, BI 21:10
4. Naomi von Ruden, BI, 21:14
5. Katrina Weinman, NK, 21:15
6. Tristana Leist, EC, 21:16
7. Alison Wise, BI, 21:23
8. Julia Denlinger, BI, 21:51
9. Cora Davies, IN, 21:53
10. Audrey Weaver, BI, 21:54
11. Ruthmabel Boytz, IN, 22:06
12. Lindsay Wienkers, BI 22:09
13. Kenaia Nuemann CS, 22:11
14. Caroline Schmidt, IN 22:16
15. Sarah Zimmerman, NK, 22:21
16. Alison Nichols, CS, 22:30
17. Danica Langaynor, CS, 22:45
18. Ivy Terry, BI, 22:58
