Cross country runners from all of the Olympic League schools kicked off the season by competing in a 2-mile jamboree competition Sept. 3 at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds.

In the varsity boys race, Kingston Buccaneer Coen Van Vliet finished first with a time of 10:24.81, earning a new personal record in the process. Spartan Ryan Dodge finished second with a time of 10:34.20, beating out third place by 14 seconds and earning a PR. Bremerton Knight Asher Stewart finished third with a time of 10:48.68.

The JV/varsity girls race included strong performances from runners at Bainbridge and Olympic. Spartan Evelyn Shutske took first place, earning a time of 12:20.67 and a new PR in the process, as well as beating out the next runner by over 15 seconds. Trojan Brynn Fulton took second with a time of 12:38.77, earning herself a new PR. Spartan Savai Esarey placed fourth in the event, earning a new PR at 13:00.28.

“I feel like we’ve been working hard all summer,” Esarey said. “This is the first time we really get to be all together and race together, which is really fun.”

In the junior varsity boys race, North Kitsap sophomore Luke Atchley took first place in the event, earning a 12:08.61 time and beating out the second-place finisher, Ari Hendrickson of Bainbridge (12:40.19) by over 30 seconds. Spartan sophomore Grayson Austin finished third with a time of 12:47.72.

“We had some athletes who ran really well today, and [we are] just learning about where they are personally, maybe somewhat of where they’re at as a team,” Bainbridge coach Anne Howard-Lindquist said.

The cross-country jamboree included all Olympic League teams.