PASCO — Kitsap runners were among the very best in Washington on Nov. 4 at Sun Willows Golf Course, as they participated in the final four races of the cross country season.

In the 4A race, the South Kitsap girls placed sixth, the highest of any team in the Kitsap News Group coverage area. Led by Paxton DePoe (31st, 18:55.30), Eugenia Palko (48th, 19:16) and Kristina Ihlen (54th, 19:21.30), the Wolves finished ahead of both Emerald Ridge and Curtis, both of which had bested South Kitsap at the league and district meets.

“Our top five girls all got personal records at state,” said South Kitsap head coach Ed Santos. “We got the chance to beat some teams we hadn’t beaten this year, and others that had beaten us recently at the league and district meets.”

The South Kitsap boys returned to the state meet for the first time since 2004 and placed 13th. Zach Grams (36th, 16:05.40) and Jacob Laws (54th, 16:16) paced a group that is poised to return its entire top six next season.

The top seven runners on each team will participate at the NXR Northwest Regional Championships at Eagle Island State Park in Boise, Idaho on Nov. 11.

In the 3A race, the Central Kitsap girls — fresh off victories at the league and district meets — finished ninth but stayed ahead of their South Sound and District 3 foes.

Maya Nichols ran a terrific race, finishing ninth with a time of 18:24.40, just missing out on a top five finish as the fourth through ninth runners were separated by less than half of a second.

“Maya ran a confident, controlled race,” Central Kitsap head coach Chris Baldus said. “She looked strong all the way through. It was a very tight race and she finished ninth overall, but five through nine were separated by half a second. She gave it evertthing she had, she just got clipped by a few runners at the line.”

It was also a big day for senior Molly Fischer, running the final race of her cross country career for Central Kitsap and finishing 13th with a time of 18:34.

“We held off on the taper until the last possible second,” said Baldus. We kept her mileage high, and she trained hard throughout the week to make sure she was as fit as possible. She broke 19 and got to the podium. It was a really special day for her.”

Sophia Kohler also ran well, taking home 58th with a time of 19:38.30.

Meanwhile, the Central Kitsap boys finished 12th, as they were initially projected, led by Andrew Simon (24th, 16:02.40) and Joshua Geiser (55th, 16:22). Ian Nye, Lucas Bertnik and Louis Gannon also ran the race in under 17 minutes. Several boys runners also ran a personal best in the 5,000 meter event.

“Lucas Bertnik, our fourth finisher, he is a freshman and he beat his PR by 30 seconds and broke 17 minutes for the first time,” said Baldus. That was not a surprise to me, but maybe it was a surprise to him. He’s worked hard all year and he really earned that performance.”

Madison Zosa represented the North Kitsap girls team well, finishing fifth in the 2A race with a time of 19:03.10. The Kingston girls placed 16th in the same race led by Holly Rouse (78th, 20:46.80) and Claire Larson (79th, 20:47.80).

In the boys 2A race, Stefans Lusis fell one place short of his goal of a top 30 finish. He came in 31st, but broke 16:40 as he hoped, finishing the race in 16:32.60. Dorian Issa (58th, 16:54.30) helped the boys place 13th as a team, but finished ahead of North Kitsap, Eatonville and Sequim, three teams they finished behind at the district race at Chambers Bay.

”Those were the three teams we beat at state, so that was a nice outcome for us as the team,” Kingston head coach Lee Willson said. “We were the number one Olympic League team at state and the number two District 3 team behind Steilacoom.”

The North Kitsap boys came in 15th and their top finisher was Matthew Hyter (88th, 17:23.40).

Klahowya had terrific performance from each of the team’s top runners, Lucas Becker and Rachel Newhard. Becker placed 19th in the boys 1A race with a time of 16:33.50, and his team finished 11th. The girls came in 14th, but Newhard ran the course in 19:42.60, which put her just outside the top 20 in 21st place.

— Mark Krulish is a reporter for Kitsap News Group. He can be reached at mkrulish@soundpublishing.com.