With just two meets remaining until the South Sound Conference cross country championships on Oct. 19, Yelm boys cross country head coach Alex McIntire said his team took its “greatest step forward” on Sept. 30 at the Curtis Invitational.
McIntire said the boys team finished ninth out of the more than 70 teams in attendance, showing “real warrior spirit” and “commitment to one another.”
Glendora High School, from California, finished in first place at the Curtis Invitational, followed by Tahoma, Gig Harbor, Emerald Ridge, Nathan Hale, Sunnyside, Olympia, Curtis, Yelm and Prairie in the top 10.
Sophomore Sam Hall was the Tornados’ top runner at the Curtis Invitational, finishing the 5,000-meter race with a time of 17 minutes, 14 seconds.
“There is still something more that they can tap into, and I trust that it will come. This has been the season of consistent growth. We have taken no steps backwards. As a coach, that is always the goal,” McIntire said. “I am really happy with the team’s performance so far this year.”
The team was down two of its top five scorers, but McIntire said the team still stepped up in huge ways. The coach said the team’s pack of 10 has been tight and consistent, but recently several of the boys have shined.
“Sophomore Sam Hall can run. He was our front runner at the Fort Steilacoom Invitational and has continued to grow into a strong runner,” McIntire said. “Team captain Matt Walsh has really excelled. He has found himself in the No. 1-runner position a number of times.”
McIntire pointed to Alex Hurd as being the “dark horse rising,” saying the athlete has consistently gotten stronger with each week of practice and competition. He said Hurd could be a “real force” by the postseason.
Two freshmen, Aidan Walton and Josiah Leonard, have been leading Yelm’s boys cross country freshman team, McIntire said. The two have put themselves in a position to be potential varsity athletes by the end of the season, he added.
“These boys know they can be great. Right now, they are very good, (but) great is on the horizon. Their performance at the Curtis Invite made greatness something tangible. Now they just have to reach out and take it,” McIntire said. “They are proud of the growth they are experiencing, but in no way content. With their consistency, self belief and fearlessness, I know that they can be a real force at the state level.”
According to McIntire, the team has been fortunate to not face any major challenges this season. He described his group as “really consistent” and because of that, they’re less likely to get injured.
“We take it week by week and continue to grow,” McIntire said. “At this point of the season, we can take a step back and gear up for the postseason. We will focus on quality workouts that can bring these guys to the next level.”
The Tornados boys cross country team will next compete on Thursday, Oct. 5 at the Central Kitsap Golf Clubhouse against the Cougars and the Gig Harbor Tides.
