Bainbridge & CK teams, SK’s Benjamin claim runner-up spots at state

Bainbridge finished its 2024 campaign among the best teams in 2A, Central Kitsap’s boys claimed another top-three finish in 3A and South Kitsap junior Isaac Benjamin ran his way to second place in 4A at the WIAA cross country championships in Pasco.

Bainbridge’s boys secured a state runner-up with 79 points, only trailing Sehome’s 34 points.

Leading the way for the Spartans was junior Ben Crandall, who blazed to sixth place with a time of 15:52. Junior Ignacio Llorens followed him in 15th place at 16:09, and sophomore Ryan Dodge took 17th at 16:10. Seniors Marcus Stroman and Kellen Diercks finished their races rounding out the scoring in 29th at 16:37 and 36th at 16:43.

The Spartans girls would finish in fourth place with 131 points, just 10 points away from Ellensburg in third. Sophomore Evelyn Shutske continued to solidify her role as the Spartan’s probable lead runner in future seasons, taking 10th place at 19:08. Junior Sabine Hartenstine, who had last competed in Bainbridge’s home league meet Oct. 18, crossed in 34th at 20:11.1, with senior Mairin O’Brien taking 35th just three-tenths of a second later. Junior Savai Esarey took 38th at 20:15, and junior Nova Sheppard completed the scoring in 47th at 20:31.

“From our front runners to crucial alternates to support crew, everyone was prepared,” said Bainbridge coach Anne Howard. “The entire BIXC community is super proud of our varsity squads’ best-ever placings at state.”

Central Kitsap’s boys would advance from third in 2023 to runners-up this year with 121 points. Sophomore Mana Voss’s return after a rest at districts was steller, the Cougars’ lead runner taking fourth place at 15:14. Senior Michael Vlach finished 15th at 15:43, and senior Gavin Brown took 30th at 16:11. Junior David McClain finished 43rd at 16:18, and sophomore Kyler Atendido ran his best race ever to finish 51st 16:27.

The Cougar girls would not find themselves atop the 3A results for the third straight year but still finished in a respectable sixth place with 153 points. Senior Taylor Palmer claimed eighth place at 18:18, followed by senior Clare Herring in 12th at 18:25 and junior Audra Palmer in 16th at 18:40. Senior Isabella Welk took 64th place at 20:05, and senior Voss Luma crossed in 117th place.

South Kitsap’s boys finished in 9th place with 217 points, but the big story was two top-ten finishers wearing Wolves colors. Benjamin’s second-place finish came in 15:05, just eight seconds behind the leading runner from Tahoma. Senior Jefferson Smith as always was not too far behind, crossing at 15:40 for a 9th-place finish. Sophomore Benson Bouck finished in 70th at 16:28, followed by senior Blake Butherus in 112th at 16:54 and senior James Hardin in 130th at 17:14.

The Wolves’ two state-qualifying seniors on the girls side would both finish in the top 40.

Emma Schmutz raced to a 12th place finish at 18:34, and Lauren Laws finished in 39th at 19:11.

Klahowya’s girls soared to fifth place with 149 points, led by senior Natalie Oathout’s seventh-place finish at 19:19 and junior Thyme Gruber’s finish in 16th at 19:54. Senior Ella Salo took 40th at 20:59, junior Samantha Schofield claimed 51st at 21:20, and freshman Lillian Wildes wrapped up her first trip to state with a 91st place finish at 22:19.

The Eagles’ boys racers were senior Tyler Larson in 38th at 17:06, senior Sawyer Hermosura-Roark in 45th at 17:14 and junior Carson Wintch in 76th at 17:44.

Bremerton’s boys would take 10th place with 270 points, led by senior Dallin Anderson’s 10th place finish at 16:06. Juniors Joshua Lueders and Asher Stewart would take flop places from districts the prior week, taking 47th at 16:50 and 73rd at 17:16. Sophomores CJ Halfhill and Nathan Hinds would close out the scoring in 135th at 18:30 and 140th at 18:49.

The Knights’ pair of freshmen state qualifiers in the girls race were Veda Stewart in 65th at 20:49 and Faith Lueders in 117th at 22:32.

Kingston’s girls team would finish in 15th place, sophomore Emma Grice leading the way in 62nd place at 20:48. Junior Olivia McGrew, senior Sophia Brown and junior Isabell Hunt all finished within three seconds of each other for 109th, 110th and 111th. Freshman Kamryn Gray finished 156th at 25:58.

The Bucs’ were also represented by two boys runners, sophomore Timothy Clark-Johnston taking 70th place at 17:13 and senior Luke Whalen finishing in 109th at 17:45.

Olympic and North Kitsap each qualified just one individual runner. Trojans senior Joshua Turner came in 64th at 17:06 in the 2A boys race, and Vikings sophomore Kathryn Mixer took 121st at 22:37 in the 2A girls race.