PASCO – It was an accomplishment well worth the wait.
Gig Harbor became the first 4A cross country team from west of the Cascades to win a boys team title at the state championships since Seattle’s Bishop Blanchet did it in 1986.
The Tides placed three runners on the medal podium and scored 55 points to outdistance defending champion Eisenhower at Sun Willows Golf Course.
Sophomore Wolfgang Beck led the way for the Tides with a fifth-place finish (15 minutes, 18.9 seconds), with teammates Tristan Peloquin (11th in 15:37.2) and Logan Carroll (16th in 15:43.3) also running well.
“It means everything,” Peloquin said. “To finally see the streak end, and to be a part of it as a freshman … it’s amazing.”
Peloquin’s older brother, Casey, led a trio of Gig Harbor seniors who finished within one second of each other inside the top 35.
The Tides ran an extremely confident race, said Mark Wieczorek, their first-year coach, and the momentum from a state title could carry over as they compete on Nov. 12 at the Northwest Regionals in Boise.
“They didn’t take anything for granted,” Wieczorek said. “The main thing was not getting caught up in what other people did. We know where we are within our training, within our fitness levels.”
The 3A boys race was a fight to the finish. Kamiakin senior Anthony Armstrong sprinted past Shadle Park’s Nathan Weitz and Lakes’ Izaic Yorks in the final 100 yards for the victory.
Yorks, a senior, took several minutes to recover after the race and said he gave every last ounce of energy. His third-place time of 15:05 was a personal best by 13 seconds.
“I couldn’t kick anymore; for some reason, I got stopped and my legs wouldn’t respond,” he said. “You have one weakness and those guys will pounce on it.”
Lakes finished ninth among 3A teams, and six of the Lancers’ top nine runners are eligible to return in 2012.
“When I started out running, I didn’t have a good team behind me,” Yorks said. “They were good people, but the motivation wasn’t really there. The way these guys have come together, made things happen, I have nothing but praise for them.”
Peninsula’s Curtis King earned his second straight state medal, taking fifth in 15:21.8. That was 18 seconds faster than his previous best.
“I’m jacked; I’ve been having a pretty bad senior season,” King said. “I tried to take the first mile slow. I always go out too fast.”
Charles Wright Academy compiled 167 points to finish fourth among the 1A boys. Juniors David Goldstone (15:55) and Ruben Riordan (16:04) placed second and third, respectively.
Northwest Christian of Lacey was second in the 1B/2B race, and senior Lucas Graham (16:17) captured the individual crown.
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