PASCO — Five area runners finished in the top 50 at the 2011 state cross country championships Saturday at Sun Willows Golf Course.
Port Townsend’s Xavier Frank topped all area runners by capturing 22nd in the Class 1A boys in a time of 17 minutes, 2 seconds on the 5-kilometer course.
The junior athlete finished a little ahead of two Chimacum runners who came in the top 50, including senior Griffin Hoins, 44th in 17:29 and sophomore Niko Ware, 49th in 17:34.
“It was a successful day for all our individual runners from Port Townsend and Chimacum,” Port Townsend-Chimacum coach Jeni Little said.
The weather cooperated with sunshine, cool temperatures and no wind.
“It was excellent course conditions,” Little said.
“Xavier Frank was our best-placed individual with 22nd place but we also had outstanding performances from Griffin Hoins of Chimacum and Brittany Grant from Port Townsend.”
Senior Hap Emmons of King’s won the 1A boys race in 15:44.
There were two North Olympic Peninsula 1A girls who finished in the top 40 as Forks senior Kristen Larson took 36th in 20:39.5 and Port Townsend junior Brittany Grant claimed 38th in 20:40.5.
Senior Maddie Meyers of Northwest was the 1A girls winner in 17:54.6.
Sequim’s Adrian Clifford, a junior, was the area’s top Class 2A runner as he captured 60th place in 17:03.2 while senior Nick Shindler of Port Angeles finished in 67th in 17:09.0.
The 2A boys winner was junior Patrick Gibson of Squalicum, who won in 15:28.8.
Port Townsend junior Addison Harper finished in 64th place in 1A boys in 17:40.
In 1A girls action, Port Townsend sophomore Peri Muellner took 61st in 21:13.9 while Forks freshman Kari Larson captured 81st in 21:58.3.
The Peninsula had one runner compete in girls 2A as sophomore Elizabeth Stevenson of Port Angeles claimed 66th place in 20:40.
Sehome freshman Emily Pittis shocked the field by taking first place in 18:17 while junior Reagan Colyer of North Kitsap was second in 18:19 and Kingston senior Marina Roberts was third in 18:23.
Cheney won the team championship with 71 points while Sehome wasn’t far behind with 78.