PASCO — Staying in step with its current trends, the North Kitsap cross-country team could join the ranks of the state’s elite in less than three years. Last year, the team made school history as the first ever to send both its boys and girls squads. This year, the boys team and freshman Ruby Roberts finished just outside the top 10.

Unfortunately for the Vikings, in three years, a portion of their crew could be sailing pirate ships as Kingston Buccaneers. Tune into the NK School District’s Athletics and Activities secondary athletic programs recommendation for the 2007-2008 year slated to be presented to the school board Dec. 14.

The Vikings savored the culmination of a season of strength building in both body and mind Saturday.

North Kitsap freshman Ruby Roberts ran to 13th place at the 4A girls state championship race in Pasco, while the NK boys — competing as a team — nearly rose to their season-long goal of top 10, clocking in 11th.

Gig Harbor rushed to first in state for the girls, while Ferris High School took the boys’ title.

Senior Cody Bradwell was the leading man for the Vikings as he hit 32nd place with a time of 16:46 on the 3.1 mile course at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco.

“Going in they had us ranked as last. There was nothing we could do that would’ve put us in a worse position. Everyone went in knowing that what we had to do was make a name for ourselves,” Bradwell said of the NK boys.

Junior burner Ray Reedy put his name onto the No. 2 tier for the Vikings as he finished with a time of 17:15 in 70th place. The almost 40 runners who finished within the half-minute span between Bradwell and Reedy spoke to the intensity of the state meet.

North juniors Nick Cameron and Paul Coulter crossed the finish line within the next 15 seconds as the Vikings — as a whole — stood up to the atmosphere of pressure and competition among the state’s best.

Roberts seemed to float in her freshman debut as she clocked in at 19:24 for 13th place.

“There are those people that you see on TV and think, ‘Wow I want to be like that,’ she (Roberts) is probably gonna be one of those,” Bradwell said.

“On the girls’ side, we lost our No. 1 runner last year, and our freshman’s filled the spot very nicely,” said assistant coach Joan Starr. “We’ve got quality kids, both in dedication and personalities and including athletic abilities, they are well-rounded individuals.”

The other members of the girls varsity squad showed both their support and admiration of Roberts and the team as they made the lengthy drive east to shout from the sideline, despite finishing one spot out of state competition at the districts Oct. 28. The girls also practiced with Roberts and the boys team for a week after the official close of their season, testifying to the true meaning behind North’s XC team.

“We try and quietly say that we are a family, and I think this just proves it,” said NK head coach Lee Hodin. “Driving back from state, we were already talking about goals for next year. When they are already hungry for it, you got something.”