The East Jefferson girls cross country team placed second while the boys team claimed third in the first Nisqually League meet of the season last week at Vashon High.

The boys and girls East Jefferson cross country teams traveled to Vashon to compete in the first Nisqually League meet of the season last week.

Both teams competed in warm sunny conditions over a 5,000-meter course during the league kickoff meet Tuesday, Sept. 21. The route featured paved trail, single-track forest trail with ample roots, grass, and a track finish. 

The girls competed first in a race with 39 competitors from five different schools. 

The EJ girls won second as a team with 37 points, just one point behind Klahowya.

The Rivals top finisher was sophomore Aliyah Yearian with a second-place overall finish in 20:25. Junior Camryn Hines took fourth overall in 20:48 followed by senior Lia Poor (13th place, 23:13) and sophomore Tadu Dollarhide (15th, 23:30).

The team was rounded out with strong finishes by senior Ava Vaughan-Mifsud (17th place, 25:16) and sophomore Sylvia Butterfield (19th, 25:24).

The Rivals boys team competed in a race of 70 athletes from seven different teams. The EJ boys placed third as a team behind Bellevue Christian and Klahowya. 

The Rivals top finisher was senior Glen Dawson who took third place overall in 18:11, a mere 2 seconds behind the second-place finisher from Bellevue Christian. 

Junior Sebastian Manza placed fourth overall for the Rivals in 18:22 and EJ’s third finisher was freshman Soare Johnston (10th place, 19:03). Sophomore Indigo Gould placed 41st (22:34), and freshman Alexander Robison completed the top five scorers for EJ with a place of 60th (25:15)