SEQUIM — Port Angeles senior Max Baeder and Sequim junior Kaitlyn Bloomenrader led area runners in the Olympic League’s fifth cross country meet of the season on Wednesday at the Dungeness Recreation Area’s Voice of America.
The 3-mile-long course offered plenty of challenges, including sections through the area’s upland forest and upland meadow habitat and through trails along the top of the bluffs.
“Senior Max Baeder finished third, with a great time on a tougher course,” Port Angeles coach Rodger Johnson said.
Baeder finished in 17 minutes, 32.48 seconds, 12 seconds back of race winner Lucas Lenz of Kingston.
Port Angeles’ boys squad finished fourth overall in the team contest with 117 points. Kingston finished first (49), while Bainbridge (52) and Olympic (87) finished second and third. Sequim was seventh with 147 points.
Kowen Kasten placed 21st (18:52.4) for the Riders while Bryce DeLeon (19:37.58); Jack Gladfelter (19:37.92) and Langdon Larson (19:38.15) all ran together and finished 30th, 31st and 32nd, respectively.
“Freshman Bryce DeLeon has moved into the team’s fifth-fastest place and is displaying the talent and work ethic of a veteran runner,” Johnson said.
Sequim senior Owen Randall paced the Wolves with a seventh-place finish (18:04.23).
Collin Feik was 22nd with the freshman running the race in 18:53.21. Calem Klinger placed 35th (19:43.64) and Mirek Skov (20:18.96), James Mason (20:24.09) and Matthew Lake (20:42.55) ended up 42nd, 43rd and 44th.
Bloomenrader was fourth in the girls meet with a time of 21:04.5. Bainbridge sophomore Mairin O’Brien won in 20:12.84.
Sequim sophomore Liberty Mavy also placed eighth (21:53.2) as the Wolves finished third overall with 91 points, behind North Kitsap (79) and the Spartans (32).
Sadie Mavy was 23rd for Sequim (24:09.71), Ahrya Klinger (25:35.96) placed 32nd and Nikoline Updike (42nd in 27:15.3) rounded out the top five Wolves.
Port Angeles freshman Leia Larson placed 10th to lead the Riders in 22:03.41. Faerin Tait ended up 26th in 24:36.15 and Kathryn Jones was 56th in 29:23.
“We only had three girls run today, but they all did great,” Johnson said. “The girls weren’t far off their top times, but this course had much more elevation change than last weekend’s fast course and gave their all after a tough few days of training on Monday and Tuesday.”
Port Angeles and Sequim will compete at the Olympic League Championships on Thursday at Cedars at Dungeness Golf Course.
Girls Swimming
Port Angeles 131, East Jefferson 51
PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles proved it’s the top girls swim and dive team on the North Olympic Peninsula after dropping East Jefferson on Wednesday at Shore Aquatic Center.
It was the second straight meet the Roughriders have claimed first-place finishes in all 12 events. Port Angeles achieved that feat last week against Sequim.
Riders coach Sally Cole said Port Angeles came out strong in its opening individual event, sweeping top varsity spots in the 200-yard freestyle with Harper McGuire claiming top honors, Danika Asgeirsson touching in second and Lizzy Shaw swimming in third, a whole six seconds before East Jefferson.
The trio then went on to reign in the 100 freestyle, again sweeping the event in the same order; McGuire first, Asgeirsson second, and Shaw third.
In the 200 individual medley, Lynzee Reid proved she had kick left at the end, as she trailed East Jefferson going into the last 50 yards and fought her way to victory in a very close race. She out touched her opponent by just 0.14 seconds. Reid then went on to win the 500 freestyle, finishing 28 seconds ahead of the nearest Rivals competitor.
Sara Wilson also picked up two firsts for the Riders. She topped the field in the 50 freestyle and then dominated the 100 butterfly, leading the pack by 20 seconds. Yau Fu nabbed a win in the 100 backstroke, Brooke St. Luise tacked on another in the 100 breaststroke, and all three Roughrider relay teams were triumphant.
In diving, Grace Possinger owned the board, grabbing yet another win for the Riders while also diving to a personal best for the season.
Port Angeles visits Olympic on Tuesday.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at mcarman@ peninsuladailynews.com.
Port Angeles’ Max Baeder runs ahead of a Kingston competitor during Wednesday’s Olympic League meet at the Dungeness Recreation Area near Sequim. (Rodger Johnson/Port Angeles Cross Country)
Cooper Berry of Port Angeles runs during an Olympic League Cross Country meet Wednesday at Dungeness Recreation Area near Sequim.
Port Angeles’ Faerin Tait runs during the fifth Olympic League Cross Country meet of the season on Wednesday at the Dungeness Recreation Area near Sequim.
