PORT ANGELES — Personal-record times were shattered by Sequim and Port Angeles cross country runners in a 3.1-mile Olympic League race at Lincoln Park on Wednesday.
Sequim senior standout Riley Pyeatt won her third straight girls race this season by setting a personal record in 18 minutes, 31.9 seconds in the 5,000 meters (3.1-mile course) as she cruised to victory by 40 seconds over her closest competitor.
And Port Angeles junior Jack Gladfelter set his own personal-best mark in that distance as a number of outstanding performances lifted the Port Angeles boys cross country team to a one-point win over Bainbridge.
The Roughriders claimed the race at Lincoln Park with 41 points, edging six other Olympic League squads, including Bainbridge (42) and Sequim, which was sixth with 162 points.
It was the third team victory in as many tries for Port Angeles and Gladfelter’s second race victory of the league season.
“This seasoned team of four seniors and three juniors is absolutely on fire,” coach Rodger Johnson said. “Jack Gladfelter had an amazing race with a PR of 16 minutes, 10 seconds, coming in first place. “The team won the meet by just one point over Bainbridge, holding them off with outstanding efforts from all runners.
“These guys are doing everything the way they should right now: pacing, pack running and, most importantly, they all support each other and have a positive attitude that is felt by the whole team.”
Three other Riders runners earned top-10 finishes.
Junior Langdon Larson was fifth in 17:18, while senior Josh Gavin placed ninth (17:34.29) and junior Maxwell Baeder came in 10th (17:34.55).
Naaman McGuffey was Port Angeles’ fifth runner, placing 17th in 17:57.41.
Sequim’s Colby Ellefson continued his strong start for the Wolves by taking third in 16:36.01.
In the girls’ race, Pyeatt’s victory lifted Sequim to a third-place team finish with 89 points, behind first-place Bainbridge’s 38.
Sophomore Kaitlyn Bloomenrader ended up seventh in 21:30.
Port Angeles was sixth in the seven-team event, but all runners set record times.
“Every girl ran a personal best for the season today,” Johnson said. “A big turnout by parents and fans had their energy levels way up and everyone ran great.
“Our goal for the girls is constant improvement over the season and they are doing just that.”
Riders freshman Zakara Braun was 20th for Port Angeles in 23:00.87, while personal records were set by senior Gracie Townsend (25:09.99), sophomore Maya Gentry (27:40.85), freshman Faerin Tait (27:52.77) and senior Katie Marchant (29:13.41).
Both Sequim and Port Angeles will race at the third Olympic League meet at the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge’s Voice of America on Wednesday.
JV Boys
Port Angeles runners Kowen Kasten and Samuel Hayes finished first and second, but the Riders were edged out by Bainbridge in the team score 38-32.
“Most of the JV runners today posted not just their season best, but overall PRs including seniors Miles Wait, Tim McDonald and Zach Gavin. Seeing these boys run their hardest and improve their best times was great motivation for the runners in the following races,” Johnson said.
Sequim’s Riley Pyeatt nears the finish line to win the girls varsity cross-country race on Wednesday at Lincoln Park in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
