Freshman Lucas Stearns was among the Wrangell Wolves who competed in the first cross-country meet of the season, held Saturday in Petersburg.
The cross-country season is officially underway.
The boys team finished second overall in the team score, with Boomchain Loucks taking first handily.
On the girls side of things, Kalee Herman was Wrangell's highest finisher, with Bella Ritchie crossing the finish line just behind her. The girls finished in 11th place at the race Saturday, Aug. 24, in Petersburg.
Wrangell raced against all Southeast schools in the 5K race. And though head coach Mason Villarma saw the meet as a "test effort," Wrangell runners gave their coach a lot to look forward to.
Despite a "difficult and slow" Petersburg course, as described by Villarma, Loucks managed a PR finish in the season's opening race. He finished with a time of 17:03.94, beating Sitka's second-place runner by over 20 seconds.
According to Villarma, Loucks initially intended on letting someone else set the race pace, but "he soon realized he was the fittest in the field and led the rest of the race."
Jackson Carney and Jackson Powers both finished just outside the top 10, helping propel Wrangell to a second-place finish with 66 points. First-place Sitka eked out the victory by just a five-point margin, finishing with 61 points.
Villarma is proud of the boys results.
"I think they'll be one of the best teams in the state across all divisions," he said. "I know these boys will put in the work. I can see another state title on the horizon."
The Wrangell boys have won the state title in their division the past two years.
While the girls team did not have the high place finishes of the boys runners, Villarama knows this year will be a steppingstone for the years ahead.
Two runners, Kourtney Barners and Kailyn McCutcheon, had never raced a 5K until Saturday, and their coach saw the race as a way to get some experience.
"The womens team is building for long-term successes that will likely be realized in the 2025 season," Villarma said.
For both teams, though, he is impressed - not just with the runners' performances on the course, but with their attitudes.
"I'm encouraged by the efforts at the start of this season, it is certainly the best group of student athletes we have had. They are strong-willed, respectful and proud to represent their community," Villarma said.
The next meet is set for Saturday, Aug. 31, in Wrangell.
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