PORT GAMBLE — Finding “the zone” is often a topic among the runners of North Kitsap’s cross country team.
On Wednesday at NK’s only home race of the year, the team again worked to get to that place athletes often cite when they’re performing at their highest level. Given the results of the meet, one might conclude there were certainly signs a few Vikings achieved their personal zone.
“We zoned it up,” said Kelly Cates, North’s No. 1 finisher and fourth finisher overall. “That’s a little thing we do before we start. You get in the zone and then you just go.”
Cates finished at 19:53, 49 seconds off the top spot, while North’s Wes Power took second for the boys with a 16:30 time.
Both runners said they weren’t in their best shape at the race’s start — Power stating he felt sick and Cates running with a pulled quadricep — but both ran through the pain to top all other Vikings.
Though North came in second overall on both the boys’ and girls’ sides, many team members said that improvement is coming with every meet.
“I’m learning every race,” said Greta Stickney, who took fifth in the race with a 20:07 time. “We’re all learning from our mistakes.”
NK has been pushing its limits — attempting to find the zone often — in both practices and meets and thus has been fatigued frequently.
“Everyone’s very tired,” said junior Will Cameron, who came in ninth with a 17:11 finish. “We’re doing three speed workouts a week. But that should pay off later when we cut back (on them).”
Despite their own fatigue from a weekend race in California, the South Kitsap Wolves boys’ and girls’ cross country teams swept three of their league opponents — North along with Bremerton, Olympic — en route to victory Wednesday.
South’s Justin Schenck won the boys race with a 16:26 time and Oly’s Katie Porter surpassed Samantha Godfrey — whom Godfrey had beaten the previous week — to win the girls’ side with a 19:04 time.
The Vikings came closest to the Wolves by a 19-36 score on the boys’ side and a 26-31 score on the girls’ side versus the Vikings.
The teams battled rain, mud and slippery conditions on an approximately 3-mile course near Port Gamble.
South’s boys are hoping to contend for the Narrows championship against two other teams — Port Angeles and Olympia. North and Olympic look to be in the middle of a crowded Narrows’ pack, but one that will become more defined as more races are completed.
South Kitsap also is in the race for a top three finish on the girls’ side, competing against Gig Harbor and Bellarmine.
Team scores: Boys — Olympic 20, Bremerton 36. South Kitsap 15, Olympic 40. North Kitsap 21, Olympic 35. South Kitsap 19, North Kitsap 36. North Kitsap 21, Bremerton 37. South Kitsap 19, Bremerton 36. Girls — South Kitsap 15, Bremerton 40. North Kitsap 18, Bremerton 41. South Kitsap 22, Olympic 39. South Kitsap 15, Bremerton 50. North Kitsap 22, Olympic 36. Olympic 23, Bremerton 32.
Individual times: Boys — Schenck (SK) 16:26. Power (NK) 16:30. Brown (Brem) 16:36. Daniels-Hall (SK) 16:40. Jones (SK) 16:47. Coleman (SK) 16:50. Bartlett (SK) 16:54. Bradwell (NK) 17:11. Cameron (NK) 17:11. Duane (Oly) 17:54. Girls — Porter (Oly) 19:04. Godfrey (SK) 19:21. Waldron (SK) 19:38. Cates (NK) 19:53. Stickney (NK) 20:07. Gregg (NK) 20:34. Coleman (SK) 20:40. Seaburg (NK) 20:47. Yeik (Oly) 21.01. Russ (SK) 21.05.
