In our team’s first big invitational weekend of the season, Issaquah split our team between two meets — sending a squad to Nike Portland XC Invitational and another group to King’s Cross Invitational. Both groups were up against high level competition, and rose to meet the challenge.

The first event of the weekend was the Boy’s JV Danner Championship at Nike Portland, where 5 of our athletes raced. Led by sophomores Alex Yahn (16th, 17:17.2, PR) and Benjamin Lucas (17th, 17:17.8, PR), the team finished 3rd overall. Other scorers were juniors Elle Miller (24th, 17:29.2, PR), Oscar Ruiz (28th, 17:34.7, PR) and senior Hayden Stowe (31st, 17:47.0). All of these athletes placed in the top 50, earning them an individual medal — a little bit of extrinsic motivation to go with an amazing performance!

Next up was our Girl’s Varsity participating in the Danner Championship, going up against some of the top teams on the west coast. Led by senior Kate Yahn (16th, 18:22.3) and junior Jane Harig (47th, 18:56.9, PR), along with junior Clara Tubbs (83rd, 19:48.7, PR), senior Julia Ryan (134th, 20:45.4), and sophomore Riley Eberhardt (137th, 20:49.3, PR) rounding out the scoring five. Quah Girls finished as the 15th of 24 teams, along with being the 4th 4A team of the race. This was an awesome step in the right direction for this team and we look forward to seeing how the rest of the season plays out for this group!

The last race for the Eagles at Nike Portland was the Boy’s Varsity in the Danner Championship, going up against two nationally ranked teams and multiple top ranked teams in their states. Our boys rose to the challenge, finishing 7th overall as a team and the 1st Washington team. Led by junior Brennen Rickey (25th, 16:00.6, PR), sophomore Connor Rickey (26th, 16:01.0, PR), and senior Ben Konopka (29th, 16:04.8, PR), along with sophomore Elliot McIntosh (96th, 16:50.3) and senior Jonathan Liu (101st, 16:54.8) rounding out the scoring five. As we rapidly approach the post-season, it is awesome experience for these athletes to get to race fast competition — rising tides lift all boats!

Our crew at King’s Cross Invite also were met with stiff competition, but this group showed that they are equally prepared to step up to the challenge of racing — even with an intensely difficult course. Beginning with the JV Boy’s White race — freshman Josh Dayley (19:02.91, 3 mi PR) won the race, with sophomore Jieden Fenderson (5th, 20:04.41, 3 mi PR), freshman Kai Mitsuyama (6th, 20:07.81, 3 mi PR), senior Ben Dong (7th, 20:08.34, 3 mi PR), and freshman Ben Meier (10th, 20:17.40, 3 mi PR) rounding out the scoring 5. This group won the team race 28-92 over Orcas Island.

Our girls at King’s Cross also showed out — led by senior Ellie Roberts (6th, 21:58.29, 3 mi PR) and followed by freshman Amelia Ryan (11th, 23:13.13, 3 mi PR), sophomores Lorelai Beernink (14th, 23:23.95, 3 mi PR), Amanda George (18th, 24:02.70, 3 mi PR), and junior Mackenzie Bice (21st, 24:14.48, 3 mi PR) to round out the scoring 5. They finished 2nd to King’s HS 31-41 in a close team battle, and we are extremely proud of this group for representing our varsity at this meet so well!

The final are of the day was the Varsity Boy’s Red race at King’s Cross, led by sophomore Robert Fischer (10th, 17:54.30, 3 mi PR), along with senior Ryan Welsh (11th, 18:00.60, 3 mi PR), sophomore Toren Garcia (10th, 18:19.20, 3 mi PR), and freshmen Anay Dhamankar (21st, 18:48.50, 3 mi PR) and Nicolas Talluto (22nd, 18:55.00, 3 mi PR) rounded out our scoring 5. This group also finished 2nd to King’s 33-53. Developing the future of our team is looking extremely bright with performances like these!

With almost everyone on our team post either a new personal best, season’s best, or a near-personal best, it is evident that even through some of our toughest training, our athletes can put up amazing performances. Great job TEAM!

Links to the results for Nike Portland are here, while King’s Cross are here. Photos by Ken Fischer of Kings Cross are linked here, and a gallery of photos of Nike Portland are linked here.

Looking ahead, Mt. Si hosts us for a four-way meet that includes Newport and Woodinville on Wednesday September 28th. This meet is hosted at the South Fork Landing Disc Golf Course in North Bend — girls will race first at 4pm. Then on Saturday October 1st, our whole team will travel to Yakima for the historic 49th Sunfair Invitational at Franklin Park. 9th grade girls will race first beginning at 10am.

Fly Eagles, Fly!