With no clear-cut pack leader among the boys or girls divisions, the fight for the top spot in this league should see multiple teams in the running — literally — at the league meet this week.
Sequim’s The Cedars at Dungeness is the backdrop for the Olympic League championships set for Thursday, Oct. 20.
The Wolves got their final tune-up in the last league meet of the season on Oct. 12, with Sequim’s girls racing far ahead of the pack to sweep Kingston and North Kitsap.
Led by senior transfer Morgan Bingham, Sequim took four of the top five individual spots and earned 20 team points, handily topping Kingston (46) and North Kitsap (60).
Bingham finished in 20:35, a season-best on Kingston’s 5,000-meter course. Junior Kiara Pierson was second (21:19), junior Noelle Bittner third (22:53), sophomore Kaitlin Viada fifth (23:20, a season-best) and freshman Vita Olsen ninth (23:59).
Sequim’s girls finished 7-1 for the season, their lone loss coming to Port Angeles on Oct. 5.
On the boys’ side, Kingston handed Sequim only their second loss of the season. Kingston Andrew Simon edged Sequim sophomore ace runner Ash Francis for first place with a 16:33 finish, with Francis seven seconds back.
Sequim’s Murray Bingham was third (17:21), while teammate Alec Shingleton placed sixth (18:07), Liam Byrne was 11th (18:56) and Jazen Bartee was 16th (19:54).
Looking ahead
Top teams and individual runners from the league meet compete at the Oct. 29 West Central District meet, dubbed the Westside Classic, at American Lake Veterans Golf Course in Tacoma. The top six boys teams and 30 individuals, and five girls teams and 25 individuals advance to the class 2A state meet, slated for Nov. 5 at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco.
Last season, Sequim’s girls took the team title but are missing four of their top five runners from that team, three to graduation and one (Elizabeth Rosales) to injury. Port Angeles placed second and Klahowya third. Similarly, Sequim’s boys won the Olympic League crown in 2015 but graduated six of their seven varsity runners, with only Francis returning. Kingston was second and Olympic third.
