A race through the open-air course covered with grass, hills, gravel and woodland all over the terrain. Some 5,000 meters with a wide range of temperatures and weather conditions stood in the way of the Cross Country team who overcame rigorous conditions. The team had a successful 2012 season with the following wins throughout the year.

The clear skies had just a hint of cold air on Saturday afternoon. Junior Jack Pearce placed 38th with a time of 16:36.8 during the WIAA State Cross Country Championship meet on Nov. 3 at Sun Willows Golf Course in  Pasco. Meanwhile, freshman Ella Schroth had a 20:03.1 time finishing 51st for the women’s 3A category.

The two athletes qualified after the 3A District 1 meet at Lakewood High School which took place on Oct. 27. Pearce breathtakingly took 3rd place on the men’s field, as Schroth finished 13th for women’s.

The men’s varsity team was a hair length away from qualifying for state to place fourth with a combined total of 114 points, 16 points behind Shorewood’s 98 for third place. The other two out of the top three teams that qualified for state were Oak Harbor placing first with 67 points beating Glacier Peak by 10 points, who placed second.

The women’s team placed seventh out of the 11 teams.

The men’s cross country team also took the title as the 2012 Wesco Champions during the Wesco 3A Conference meet on Oct. 18 at Cedarcrest Golf Course.

They came home finishing first with an impressive score of 70 followed by Glacier Peak at 74. Pearce finished 2nd with a time of 16:06.5, followed by senior Yohans Tewolde at 9th and juniors Wyatt Allemann at 14th, Peter Kidane at 17th and 28th for Nathan Sparks.

The women’s Cross Country team placed sixth with a combined score of 156. Schroth was the team’s top runner placing 17th, followed by sophomore McKenna Hunt at 18th, sophomore Maddie Dellinger at 27th, freshman Marie Auch-Schwel at 32nd, and sophomore Jacinta Garcia at 52nd.

The team also won the Edmonds School District meet on Oct. 11 at Lynndale Park. Five out of the top 10 in the men’s field were Pearce placing 2nd, followed by Tewolde at 3rd, Sparks at 6th, junior Chris Baumgartner at 8th, and Kidane at 9th place.

On the women’s field, Hunt finished 3rd with Schroth trailing behind for 7th, and Schwel at 10th.

The only graduating athletes are Tewolde and Steven Szilvassy. Tewolde said, “With only Stevey and I graduating, [we’re] looking strong. Peter, Wyatt, Chris, Henry, Nathan, [are] all going to be stepping up next year and going to have a good team.”