SNOHOMISH — The mighty Viking track team, with only half of its crew, traveled to Snohomish to get a view of what it can do with hard work, trust and confidence. And amidst a list of 50 teams on April 22, the Viking boys ended at No. 18.

The results are more impressive than they sound, provided the competition at the 19th annual Eason Invitational — hosting some of the top teams from the east side of Puget Sound — in addition to the North men’s breakout season, becoming one of the top teams on the west side, racking up five undefeated Narrows League meets thus far.

A record turnout this year have allowed the Vikings to have, on average, three or four competitors lined up for each event or race. For last Saturday’s competition, the Viking force was split, sending the top-ranked performers to Snohomish while the rest of the crew competed in the Narrows League at the South Kitsap Invite.

Still, the overwhelming theme of team unity that the Vikes have created this season stretched across the 85 miles between the teams.

“They were calling each other back and forth on their cell phones. You could tell that they missed each other and needed each other’s support,” said NK boys head coach Kaelea Makaiwi-Barreith, adding that the coaches were doing the same thing. “We just wanted to give them a look at the competition on the other side as well as in the state, so they could see what it’s like.”

For fuel, the Vikes needed to look no further than their performances.

Will Cameron was the top placer for the Vikings overall in Snohomish as he swiftly sliced to second place in the 800M run, one second after Burlington-Edison’s Tyler Armenta.

Cameron also put in a good leg for the Viking 4x400M relay, which finished fifth in the standings with a time of 3:31.97. Eisenhower was the frontrunner by a gap of only four seconds, at 3:27.52.

After seeing the boys’ relay teams solidify over the course of the season, Makaiwi-Barreith said the possibility of North sending both individuals as well as a relay team through postseason competition is not far out.

Right now it’s about “working hard; giving (the team) that look like we did last week I think really helped,” Makaiwi-Barreith said, noting that though the hopes for an undefeated boys team season ended, the meet showed an example of the 51-team venue sporting more than 1,000 athletes offering inspiration. “We need to be keeping them determined, helping them to achieve their goals.”

Goals are being met at all levels on this year’s squad. It’s not a handful that are carrying the team, it is a family that is proving itself and striving to put North Kitsap track on the map, coaches and athletes agree.

At the South Kitsap Invitational April 22, the JV-ranked athletes represented in the Narrows League for North without their varsity.

Amidst varsity caliber competition, the JV Vikings were led by distance runner Ray Reedy who stepped up on the afternoon to claim seventh place in the 1600M run with a time of 4:38.74. With that time, Reedy picked up a personal record while also stepping into the No. 2 spot for North behind Cameron.

“I thought (the SK Invite) was a good experience for the younger kids but it was a little higher competition than I thought it was gonna be,” said NK girls head coach Dave Snyder. Regardless, he felt it was a good weekend where both the JV and varsity squads performed well and got a look at the next level of competition.

North Kitsap will continue to take its performance the next level as it enters the burn that is the end of the season, starting Thursday.

The Vikings will host their only home meet of the season as Shelton comes to town with action starting at 3:30 p.m. April 27.