His hometown is Port Orchard, but Jon Phillips has become a Tri-Cities regular.
The South Kitsap senior has competed in Star Track in Pasco and returns to the Eastern Washington city for the state cross-country championships Saturday at Sun Willows Golf Course.
Phillips clinched a spot in the event by finishing in the top 30 at Saturday’s Westside Cross Country Classic at Lakewood’s American Lake Veterans Golf Course.
He finished 19th in the Class 4A event in 16 minutes, 33.3 seconds. Central Kitsap junior Shane Moskowitz finished the event in 15:14.3, almost 19 seconds better than second-place competitor Julian-Blake Cowan (15:33.1) from Auburn Riverside.
Entering the season, Phillips hoped for a top-five finish at state. But he’s battled problems with his right Achilles tendon in addition to knee problems. He now hopes to place in the top 20 at state.
“I just have to get my head in there,” he said, adding that his best time this year only is 16:30 while his career-best mark is 15:42. “I’m thinking too much as a senior. I haven’t really raced well all year because of it.”
Phillips slipped at the beginning of the race and wasn’t able to maneuver through the crowd with 121 competitors.
“I was excited because I was healthy for once, but I fell at the start,” Phillips said. “I had to start about 3 seconds behind everyone and with that many people, it kind of ruined the race.”
His classmate, Andrew Vargas, just missed the cut. He finished 32nd in 16:50.5.
“He ran his mind out,” South coach Paul Zimmer said.
The Wolves placed 14th among 16 teams with 287 points. Tahoma finished first in the boys team standings with 70 points.
On the girls side, South was 15th among 16 teams with 360 points. Gig Harbor won the event with 52 points.
Freshman Amanda Wilson was South’s top placer in 33rd with 19:59.1. Zimmer noted that every member of the girls team who competed finished with a personal-best time.
“You couldn’t ask for any more out of them,” he said. “It’s just a young team. No one on that team even ran for us last year.”
Zimmer hopes the members of the girls team learn from the experience because none of them graduate.
“I just hope they have the desire and hunger and put in the work this summer,” he said. “I think they got a taste of it … and work toward going to the state meet.”
Results
Boys
Team scores: Tahoma 70, Gig Harbor 91, Auburn Riverside 107, Olympia 140, Central Kitsap 158, Emerald Ridge 159, Puyallup 219, Jefferson 247, Kent Meridian 250, Todd Beamer 262, Bellarmine Prep 269, Curtis 272, Kentridge 282, South Kitsap 287, Stadium 353, Kentwood 354.
Individuals (top 30 to state): 1, Shane Moskowitz (CK) 15:14.3; 2, Julian-Blake Cowan (AR) 15:33.1; 3, Conner Peloquin (GH) 15:33.7; 4, Kevin Rosaaen (W) 15:40.3; 5, Kelton Sears (Ta) 15:50.2; 6, Kenny Krotzer (AR) 16:05.3; 7, Casey Campbell (Ta) 16:12.3; 8, Phil Lussier (Ta) 16:14.1; 9, Jordan Mirk (ER) 16:15.5; 10, Chase Braxmeyer (J) 16:19.3; 11, Chris Schroll (ER) 16:20.2; 12, Zackery Weber (CK) 16:20.7; 13, Brett Bertrand (P) 16:23.4; 14, Robby Ubben (GH) 16:27.5; 15, Nate Brennand (O) 16:29.2; 16, Dj Jigre (KM) 16:30.1; 17, Daniel Caldwell (Cu) 16:30.9; 18, Jesse Baggenstos (KR) 16:31.6; 19, Jon Phillips (SK) 16:33.3; 20, Kevin Thomson (ER) 16:34.5; 21, Chris Adgar-Beal (GH) 16:35.0; 22, Jimmy Creek (Ta) 16:36.3; 23, Derrick Daigre (KM) 16:39.8; 24, Jeff Miles (AR) 16:40.8; 25, Ryan Lawrence (O) 16:41.5; 26, Matt Baer (BP) 16:42.3; 27, Spencer Payne (GH) 16:46.9; 28, Ted Knudsen (O) 16:47.3; 29, Tim Pettit (KW) 16:47.8; 30, Nate Funkhouser (GH) 16:48.2; 32, Andrew Vargas (SK) 16:50.5; 70, Daniel Nadeau (SK) 17:32.4; 92, Jake Allen (SK) 17:50.4; 99, Andrew Crock (SK) 17:56.5; 112, Donny Boe (SK) 18:22.9; 114, Cody Pace (SK) 18:25.1
Girls
Team scores: Gig Harbor 52, Tahoma 96, Curtis 139, Olympia 151, Jefferson 152, Bellarmine Prep 153, Central Kitsap 169, Todd Beamer 204, Auburn Riverside 211, Stadium 233, Kentwood 315, Rogers 342, Emerald Ridge 342, Puyallup 353, South Kitsap 360, Kentlake 416.
Individuals (top 30 to state): 1, Alyssa Andrews (GH) 17:45.5; 2, Shannon Moskowitz (CK) 18:29.4; 3, Chloe Treleven (Cu) 18:29.9; 4, Clare Kane (O) 18:37.2; 5, Erika Martin (Cu) 18:49.1; 6, Hannah Mittelstaedt (Ta) 18:54.7; 7, Erin Hull (GH) 18:57.9; 8, Tori Johansen (CK) 19:05.1; 9, Julianna Mock (Ta) 19:13.1; 10, Annie Dear (O) 19:13.5; 11, Danie Moon (GH) 19:18.0; 12, Taylor Kartes (TB) 19:23.9; 13, Julia Freeburg (BP) 19:24.4; 14, Cara Saxon (GH) 19:24.9; 15, Kailey Ulland (KW) 19:25.2; 16, Jasmine Johnson (FW) 19:25.6; 17, Sarah Johnson (Sh) 19:26.3; 18, Carly Wilczynski (ER) 19:29.0; 19, Lauren Clawson (Ta) 19:29.5; 20, Sara Mussa (TB) 19:30.1; 21, Claire Betterbed (GH) 19:30.6; 22, Kelly Williams (GH) 19:31.2; 23, Vanessa Bennum (J) 19:32.2; 24, Brittany Kealy (GH) 19:32.8; 25, Alexia Martin (KM) 19:34.5; 26, Molly Bauer (Cu) 19:41.0; 27, Lacey Printz (J) 19:42.6; 28, Kayley Turner (R) 19:43.2; 29, Kelsey Loomans (AR) 19:50.4; 30, Monica Jaenicke (J) 19:55.1; 33, Amanda Wilson (SK) 19:59.1; 85, Ashley Novak (SK) 21:35.7; 87, Chelsea Brown (SK) 21:41.3; 92, Erika Copeland (SK) 21:58.0; 104, Rhianna Boe (SK) 22:25.9.
