The Pirate cross country team saw plenty of action last week. Athletes were able to run under sunny skies both Thursday and Saturday at two meets at at Fort Steilacoom, which has a course that is well liked by the team.

Vashon’s boys team placed third of four teams at Thursday’s meet. Charles Wright took a perfect score of 15 points when it swept the first five places.

The girls team had just four runners who were eligible to compete. To place and score as a team in cross country, teams must have a minimum of five runners.

Individually, senior Maddi Groen placed third overall as she covered the 3.1-mile course in 23:28. Two of Vashon’s freshmen girls placed in the top 10. Natalie Vandevanter placed sixth, and Audry Benner finished 10th overall for the girls.

At the Fort Steilacoom invitational on Saturday, nearly 60 schools attended, representing all classifications. Maddi Groen placed fourth overall out of 153 runners in the girls junior varsity race.

In the 2k youth race, Jeffrey Parrish, representing McMurray Middle School, took second  overall with a time of 7:24.

The next cross country meet for the Pirates will be a home meet on Thursday, Sept. 27. This will be a five-school meet with Cascade Christian, Seattle Christian, Life Christian and Eatonville. The meet will also include a middle school race.

Saturday, Sept. 29, will be the annual ferry dock to ferry dock community run.

— Kevin Ross is a cross country coach at Vashon High School.