LAKEWOOD — When it comes to the Central Kitsap cross-country program, it starts with the Moskowitz twins.
That again was the case during Wednesday’s 5-kilometer Narrows League cross-country championships at Fort Steilacoom Park when junior Shane Moskowitz won the boys race in 15 minutes, 25.54 seconds. He outlasted Gig Harbor’s Conner Peloquin (15:36.36) and Wilson’s Kevin Rosaaen (15:38.98).
“I was debating on staying with Kevin because he always goes out really hard,” Moskowitz said. “Conner went with Kevin, so I decided to go with him.”
Rosaaen had the lead after the first lap, but the race remained close until near the end. Moskowitz said he felt good throughout the race, and after competing there last season and in last week’s meet along with Bellarmine Prep, Central Kitsap, Shelton and South Kitsap, he had a plan.
“I already had in my head that I was going to take off down the last hill,” he said. “I do pretty good downhill, I guess.”
Moskowitz, who finished with a personal-best time, said he’s been able to avoid getting sick. His sister, Shannon, has battled bronchitis for a couple of weeks.
“I’ve just stayed away from her,” he said, laughing. “She’s been running great with it, so I’m proud of her.”
The top 30 finishers qualified for Nov. 1 districts at American Lake Veterans Golf Course in Lakewood. Joining Moskowitz for the Cougars are Zackery Weber (16:36.97, seventh place), Michael Thorsen (16:59.14, 10th), John Mackovjak (17:22.44, 21st) and Mark Siesta (17:30.78, 25th). That helped CK finished second with 64 points behind Gig Harbor (37).
“I’m really proud of them,” CK coach John Emery said. “They work together and that’s what counts.”
He said the same applies to the girls team, which also qualified for districts because it finished in the top six. The Cougars placed fourth with 93 points behind Gig Harbor (39), Olympia (78) and Bellarmine Prep (79).
Despite her illness, Moskowitz finished second (18:47.13) behind Olympia junior Clare Kane (18:32.95). She said she was about 15 seconds slower than her expectations.
“I wanted to quit so bad during the first mile because I just didn’t feel very good,” Moskowitz said. “But I had to push through it because it’s leagues and I want to help my team out.”
CK had two top-10 placers when Tori Johansen, an exchange student from Norway, placed eighth in 19:51.51.
“We got her in August and she wanted to try cross country,” Emery said. “What more can you ask for?”
A third runner, Gee Mi Jorde, also qualified for the Cougars. She finished 16th in 20:40.31.
“It was a very good performance for the boys and girls,” Emery said. “They pushed themselves hard. I can’t complain at all. They were good.”
GIRLS
Team scores (top six to districts): Gig Harbor 39, Olympia 78, Bellarmine Prep 79, Central Kitsap 93, Stadium 119, South Kitsap 158, Shelton 172, Wilson 183.
Individual results (top 30 to districts): 1, Clare Kane (O) 18:32.95; 2, Shannon Markowitz (CK) 18:47.13; 3, Annie Dear (O) 19:06.67; 4, Julia Freeburg (BP) 19:14.28; 5, Cara Saxon (GH) 19:38.13; 6, Claire Betterbed (GH) 19:48.83; 7, Danie Moon (GH) 19:50.94; 8, Tori Johansen (CK) 19:51.51; 9, Erin Hull (GH) 19:52.73; 10, Sarah Johnson (Sh) 19:53.37; 11, Erika Copeland (SK) 19:58.97; 12, Kelly Williams (GH) 20:06.41; 13, Mackenzie Vaughn (BP) 20:22.89; 14, Amanda Wilson (SK) 20:29.64; 15, Eline Cove (St) 20:37.06; 16, Gee Mi Jorde (CK) 20:40.31; 17, Brittany Kealy (GH) 20:40.56; 18, Lauren Hilger 20:41.36; 19, Kathleen Hoza (O) 20:43.29; 20, Loreal McGee (W) 20:43.99; 21, Annie Tollefson (BP) 20:45.45; 22, Megan Tracy (St) 20:49.57; 23, Alyssa Zuehlsdorff (BP) 20:49.81; 24, Elena Wimberger (St) 20:52.48; 25, Caroline Yearian (BP) 20:53.26; 26, Emily Coic (St) 20:53.9; 27, Emily McHugh (O) 20:54.49; 28, Marissa Ang (O) 20:55.88; 29, Heather Willis (W) 20:57.88; 30, Christy Sipes (GH) 21:06.4.
Boys
Team scores (top six to districts): Gig Harbor 37, Central Kitsap 64, Olympia 67, Bellarmine Prep 94, Stadium 114, South Kitsap 138, Wilson 183, Shelton 231, Mount Tahoma 267, Foss 309, Lincoln 344.
Individual results (top 30 to districts): 1, Shane Markowitz (CK) 15:25.54; 2, Conner Peloquin (GH) 15:36.36; 3, Kevin Rosaaen (W) 15:38.98; 4, Nate Brennand (O) 16:37.18; 5, Spencer Payne (GH) 16:38.28; 6, Robby Ubben (GH) 16:43.71; 7, Zackery Weber (CK) 16:46.97; 8, Mark Coic (CK) 16:48.58; 9, Matt Baer (BP) 16:57.24; 10, Michael Thorsen (CK) 16:59.24; 11, Casey Cabernet (CK) 17:03.71; 12, Ryan Lawrence (O) 17:06.26; 13, Joe Galliano (GH) 17:06.94; 14, Jon Phillips (SK) 17:09.31; 15, Mac Wing (St) 17:13.84; 16, Ted Knudsen (O) 17:15.21; 17, Jared Shorten (O) 17:18.91; 18, Sam Fleckenstein (O) 17:19.15; 19, Brent Felnagle (BP) 17:21.47; 20, Scott Hanson (BP) 17:21.47; 21, John Markova (CK) 17:22.44; 22, Elliott Johnson (BP) 17:22.44; 23, Sam Hales (O) 17:23.08; 24, Eric Schacht (BP) 17:23.36; 25, Mark Zylstra (CK) 17:30.78; 26, Andrew Vargas (SK) 17:31.52; 27, Andrew Hass (BP) 17:39.15; 28, Andrew Lynch (St) 17:42.0; 29, Caleb Howard (Sh) 17:45.07; 30, Robert Cove (St) 17:49.41. Individual results (top 30 to districts): 1, Clare Kane (O) 18:32.95; 2, Shannon Markowitz (CK) 18:47.13; 3, Annie Dear (O) 19:06.67; 4, Julia Freeburg (BP) 19:14.28; 5, Cara Saxon (GH) 19:38.13; 6, Claire Betterbed (GH) 19:48.83; 7, Danie Moon (GH) 19:50.94; 8, Tori Johansen (CK) 19:51.51; 9, Erin Hull (GH) 19:52.73; 10, Sarah Johnson (Sh) 19:53.37; 11, Erika Copeland (SK) 19:58.97; 12, Kelly Williams (GH) 20:06.41; 13, Mackenzie Vaughn (BP) 20:22.89; 14, Amanda Wilson (SK) 20:29.64; 15, Eline Cove (St) 20:37.06; 16, Gee Mi Jorde (CK) 20:40.31; 17, Brittany Kealy (GH) 20:40.56; 18, Lauren Hilger 20:41.36; 19, Kathleen Hoza (O) 20:43.29; 20, Loreal McGee (W) 20:43.99; 21, Annie Tollefson (BP) 20:45.45; 22, Megan Tracy (St) 20:49.57; 23, Alyssa Zuehlsdorff (BP) 20:49.81; 24, Elena Wimberger (St) 20:52.48; 25, Caroline Yearian (BP) 20:53.26; 26, Emily Coic (St) 20:53.9; 27, Emily McHugh (O) 20:54.49; 28, Marissa Ang (O) 20:55.88; 29, Heather Willis (W) 20:57.88; 30, Christy Sipes (GH) 21:06.4.
Boys
Team scores (top six to districts): Gig Harbor 37, Central Kitsap 64, Olympia 67, Bellarmine Prep 94, Stadium 114, South Kitsap 138, Wilson 183, Shelton 231, Mount Tahoma 267, Foss 309, Lincoln 344.
Individual results (top 30 to districts): 1, Shane Markowitz (CK) 15:25.54; 2, Conner Peloquin (GH) 15:36.36; 3, Kevin Rosaaen (W) 15:38.98; 4, Nate Brennand (O) 16:37.18; 5, Spencer Payne (GH) 16:38.28; 6, Robby Ubben (GH) 16:43.71; 7, Zackery Weber (CK) 16:46.97; 8, Mark Coic (CK) 16:48.58; 9, Matt Baer (BP) 16:57.24; 10, Michael Thorsen (CK) 16:59.24; 11, Casey Cabernet (CK) 17:03.71; 12, Ryan Lawrence (O) 17:06.26; 13, Joe Galliano (GH) 17:06.94; 14, Jon Phillips (SK) 17:09.31; 15, Mac Wing (St) 17:13.84; 16, Ted Knudsen (O) 17:15.21; 17, Jared Shorten (O) 17:18.91; 18, Sam Fleckenstein (O) 17:19.15; 19, Brent Felnagle (BP) 17:21.47; 20, Scott Hanson (BP) 17:21.47; 21, John Markova (CK) 17:22.44; 22, Elliott Johnson (BP) 17:22.44; 23, Sam Hales (O) 17:23.08; 24, Eric Schacht (BP) 17:23.36; 25, Mark Zylstra (CK) 17:30.78; 26, Andrew Vargas (SK) 17:31.52; 27, Andrew Hass (BP) 17:39.15; 28, Andrew Lynch (St) 17:42.0; 29, Caleb Howard (Sh) 17:45.07; 30, Robert Cove (St) 17:49.41.
