The final regular season cross-country meet of the year saw a full, healthy Pirate team compete to personal bests and a strong team finish at the seven-school event on Oct. 15.

The boys’ team finished third, with several athletes giving standout performances.

Sophomore Pirate Tylor Heit pushed eventual meet winner Max LaBerge from Charles Wright Academy in the early part of the race, and eventually claimed fourth place overall out of 43 runners, in a time of 17 minutes, 22 seconds. Junior Aidan Cyra claimed 10th overall; he had his fastest time ever at Fort Steilacoom in 18 minutes, 16 seconds. Cyra also held off three competitors from Washington and one from Fife High School at the finish line, helping Vashon to a better team placing.

“I have been impressed with the work rate and how far Aidan has come in his running career,” said Coach Kevin Ross. “He has put himself into position to challenge for a spot at the state meet.”

Senior Cole Grabow also ran a stellar time in the meet to place 19th overall in a time of 18 minutes, 40 seconds, on the five-kilometer course.

“This was by far the guys’ best effort of the season,” Ross said. “With the league and district meet on the horizon, the guys have put themselves in a great position to compete at the highest level.”

The girls turned in personal best times and strong finishes all around.

Savannah Krug ran a personal best on the course, coming in seventh with a time of 21 minutes, 39 seconds, blazing the way for the rest of the team. Leigh Sheridan also ran a personal best, following Savannah closely in 22 minutes, 10 seconds, for a 12th-place finish.

Kate Straube, Peri Roberts, Lindsay Straube and Lydia Houston all ran strong races to bring the Pirate team a third-place finish overall.

Maddi Groen was Vashon’s lone representative in the middle school competition and ran a strong and speedy race to finish fifth out of 25 girls at the 1.4-mile course in 10 minutes, 56 seconds.

“Expect great things from the Vashon cross-country team in the future,” said Coach Laura Johnson. “With talent like Maddi’s coming to the high school team next year, the Pirates team will continue to be out in front of the competition.”

Thursday, Oct. 23, the Pirates take on all nine teams in the Nisqually 1A/2A league, at the Nisqually League Championship meet at Spanaway Lake Park.

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