POULSBO — The North Kitsap High School cross country team has been accumulating the most success it has seen in years. And with crunch time just around the corner, runners are hoping to carry it into the postseason.

The Vikings’ 75-strong squad has been hard at work since before practice started at the end of August, said coach Lee Hodin, adding that as the athletes have bought into the program, results are proving the testament of hard work.

“The season is going great,” coach Hodin said. “It is the largest group we have had and we are enjoying the most success we’ve had since I’ve been here.”

The NK girls are hovering just below the Top 10 teams in the state, and the talented boys are hoping to bring everything together in the coming weeks.

Last week, the JV Vikes ran at the Bridge Classic, while the varsity ran with a 40-team field at the Adidas Cross Country Classic at Concordia University in Portland, Ore.

Coach Hodin was slightly disappointed with the results from the Bridge Classic but said it was a “good gut check” that will spark the runners for the final JV meet of the year, the Narrows League Championships.

Results from the Adidas Cross Country Classic Saturday were much more upbeat as the boys placed eighth and the girls finished ninth.

Greta Stickney and Cody Bradwell were the top finishers for North Kitsap. Stickney ran the 5K in 19:16.3 for 22nd in overall girls, and Bradwell ended 23rd for the overall boys.

Jennifer Gregg and Kelly Cates also finished in the top-50 for the Lady Vikings. Wes Power and Paul Coulter did the same on the boys’ side.

“Coulter had a great day; he’s been struggling with some injuries. He stepped up huge for us,” Hodin complimented on the 16:53 finish. “Everybody had a good time; it was well worth the drive.”

The team is now focused on the Narrows League Championships which are today at Fort Steilacoom in Tacoma. Much more pressure hangs on the District meet, Oct. 29, as it is the deciding tournament for who moves on to state.

NK has around the third-largest team in the league and should enter the championships with poise.

“We are loaded with standouts,” Hodin said. “Bradwell and Stickney are our top runners right now; but it seems every meet we have a new person step up.”

Hodin noted that solid competitors have been making their mark throughout the season: “Power, Will Cameron, Coulter, and Nick Cameron are rock solid for the boys. Cates, Britt Seaberg and Gregg are rock solid on the girls side.”

Moving into the post-season with talent and experience, the focus is on stress management and consistency. Coach Hodin believes if the team remembers to relax and run at its potential, success shall be achieved.

The only things left to improve are the little things like getting sleep, eating healthy and keeping stress at a minimum. After fighting off the end of the season burn-out, coach Hodin believes the team is energized for the final stretch.

“We have a bit of a history of struggling in championship season,” Hodin said of the past five years. “I am confident that trend will not continue.”