For the first time ever Bainbridge High School will send both its girls and boys cross country teams to state in Pasco Nov. 6.

At last week’s district meet in Tacoma, BHS senior Eden Michael led the girls with a seventh-place finish in 19 minutes, 10 seconds followed by senior Lucy King in her season’s best 20:18 and sophomore Lily Curtis’s 20:32. Freshman Gabby Farley beat her personal best by 30 seconds in 20:52. The invitation to state was secured by the sophomore three-pack of Elise Gonzales (21:23), Lili Pohl (21:30) and Hailey McCulloch (also 21:30).

After winning the Olympic League championship, the Spartans finished fifth at districts.

“These girls have created a cohesive, determined, and speedy team over the past fifteen months,” coach Anne Howard Lindquist said. “The team has deep leadership and enthusiasm, even beyond our top ten varsity, which hasn’t peaked yet.”

The boys were in a tighter battle to be one of the seven teams going to state. Bainbridge and North Thurston tied for sixth with 192 points from their first five runners, but sophomore Laird Ferrel (18:50) tipped the match to the Spartans, crossing the finish line far ahead of the Ram’s No 6.

Bainbridge senior Alex Miller led the team running a near PR (15th in 16:40), followed by junior Will Browning (24th in 17:08), sophomore Bodie Strom (18:07), senior captain Mace Korytko (18:13.2) and junior captain Abe Cole (18:18.2).

“What an exciting, determined, resilient team,” assistant coach Paul Benton said, adding they’ve had to work past some injuries and a disappointing finish at the league meet. “They are still a dark horse, but with that kind of grit they’re not done yet.”