All Kevin Klein needs to fulfill his goal of running at state is a repeat of his performance at last weekend’s Western Conference 4A South Division cross country championships.
The Shorewood senior placed third individually at the 10-team league meet Oct. 25 at Lakewood High School in a time of 16 minutes, 32 seconds.
“He ran a really good race,” Shorewood boys coach Howie Wood said. “He beat a lot of folks who have been beating him during the regular season.”
Klein finished 25 seconds back of the winner, Jackson’s Caleb Knox, and 15 seconds behind Kamiak’s Kelly Spady.
“He was just off the lead in the beginning,” Wood said. “His first split was a hair fast and from there he ran a smart, competitive race.”
If the results from the league meets are any indication of what to expect at tomorrow’s Northwest District 4A championships at South Whidbey High School, Klein is sitting pretty.
The top four Wesco South runners all posted faster times than Wesco North champion Dan Weiser (16:39) of Snohomish on the 5-kilometer course.
State berths go to the top two teams and the top 10 individuals at districts, down from three team and 15 individual berths last year.
“That 4A boys race is going to be a hoot,” Wood said.
Sophomore Eric Ardissono and freshman Alex Krowka finished in the top 30 for the Thunderbirds, who took fifth as a team — three spots higher than 2002.
Jackson had five finishers in the top 15 to seize the team title with 38 points. Kamiak (62) placed second, followed by Edmonds-Woodway (76), Mountlake Terrace (101) and Shorewood (122).
The T-birds placed 12th out of 16 teams at Northwest Districts last season.
“We’re shooting for the top half,” Wood said, “or maybe a little higher.”
While the Wesco South boys outshined their Wesco North counterparts, the opposite was true for the girls.
The top five Wesco North runners all recorded better times than Wesco South champion Lisa Anderberg of Kamiak.
Anderberg pulled away from Shorewood junior Rachel Botham in the final mile for a winning time of 20:07, five seconds ahead of Botham.
Sophomore Hannah Vietmeir took 10th, helping the T-birds to a third-place team showing. Senior Karissa Thomsen and sophomores Katie Haug and Alison Osborne all placed in the top 30.
Jackson runners took five of the top 15 places, allowing the Timberwolves to squeak by Kamiak for the team championship, 59 points to 62.
Shorewood (91), Everett (143) and Mountlake Terrace (160) rounded out the top five.
A trio of Shorecrest sophomores cracked the top 30, as the Scots finished seventh in both the boys and girls final team standings.
Jessica Tapley and Kate Haller placed 17th and 29th respectively in the girls race and Michael Baker took 26th in the boys race.
Shorecrest and the Western Conference’s other two 3A schools will compete against the Northwest 3A League at Northwest Districts for three team and 15 individual state berths.
This year’s state meet is set for Nov. 8 at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco.
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