Mercer Island cross country runners hope focus will propel team to the top

Published 10:04 am Tuesday, September 28, 2010

This is the sixth week of a look at MIHS fall sports. A new team will be featured each week. Next week: boys golf.

Much like members of the U.S. Postal Service who don’t let rain, sleet or snow deter them from routes, members of the Mercer Island cross country team are apt to follow the same code.

Running in the rain, sunshine and anything else Mother Nature can throw their way isn’t the news for these high schoolers. This year, they hope, it’s all about how they perform beyond the regular season.

Two years ago, the girls team won state and the boys finished fifth overall, the best finishes ever for both squads. After a year adjusting, the Islanders are back to it.

“I think last year we were kind of settling back to who the leaders were going to be, kind of the dynamics of the team, all of those pieces,” said head coach Erica Hill, who, along with Tony Scaringi, is at the helm of the team. “I think that last year was a little bit of an adjustment, particularly on the girls side; I think there was a feeling of pressure and a lot of hubbub.”

Last season ended with the boys team taking 14th overall at state, and with Lindsay Benster, a junior captain this year, finishing eighth, while Molly O’Callahan was 46th overall.

“I think that was a huge development of what this group of guys is doing this year. This senior group is unreal,” said Hill. “They are so focused, so packed, so strong and put in amazing work over the summer. They are reaping the rewards.”

Senior captain Robbie Frankel said one of the team’s strengths is just how strong they are, not just in the senior class, but with some surprising additions.

“It’s been going really well,” he said. “There have been some surprises that have come through already.”

Hill said runners like Nick Ford, Andy Wingerson, Josh Chasan, Tyler Goolsby, Jake Schuler and Austin Scarff have already made a difference for the team.

“I think that this is sort of their year,” said Hill.

On the girls team, Hill said the underclassmen are helping to push the team.

“I think that the energy and excitement that they’ve brought in — everybody’s kind of taking that (next) level up,” said the coach. “Just the way the guys team is bonding and the girls team is bonding, and all together as one big team, the way they are bonding and supporting each other has shown some amazing displays of sportsmanship. They are setting impressive goals and working really hard. There are exciting things to look forward to in our future.”

For the girls team, senior captains Savannah Dixon and Caroline Ruwe, playing in the top of the team at the end of the season are their goals. The boys have their eyes on the podium.

“We want a top-four finish,” said Will Clausen, the second senior captain. “I want to finish in the top 10 at state. Then you can continue on to other races.”

In order to make those things happen, Hill said the team will have to stay away from injuries and hit their strides at just the right time. Hill also said it’s important for the runners to take care of themselves on and off the course.

“I think it’s really hard at this time of year when school starts and they start getting less sleep and the stress of life, so trying to remember to pay attention to the details, we call it,” said Hill. “Eating well, sleeping well, drinking well. We found that in the past we come to the championship time and kids get sick, so I think staying injury free and staying healthy, as well as having fun. Continuing to enjoy the sport and the time together.”

Dixon said they are already on the look out for injuries, seeing a few pop up in the early part of the season.

“We’ve had a few injuries, which is troublesome, but hopefully we’ll get over that,” she said.

As the season progresses Hill said a big focus for the coaching staff continues to be the pack mentality.

“As a team I think that we always want to try to create the focus with cross country to make sure that the less time between each runner the better,” said Hill. “The more you can really be connected to that person in front of you, that’s only going to make you stronger and make your team stronger. We emphasize that and really emphasize that every single person, all 130, on this team are so important to the success of the overall team.”

Last week Mercer Island met some of it’s stiffest competition of the season: Bellevue. During a meet between the Islanders, Bellevue and Lake Washington at Kelsey Creek Park last Wednesday, the Wolverines swept the meet. The Islanders finished in second place in both the girls and boys races. For Mercer Island it was a test of what was to come.

“The district race is going to be our next opportunity to see some good competition,” said Hill. The captains agreed, saying Bellevue was the meet they most looked forward to, besides the post season.

The success this team has had can be largely attributed to the coaching staff, led by Hill and Scaringi.

“This is the second year that Tony and I are co-head coaches,” said Hill. “I think that’s been just incredibly positive. We’ve got an incredible crew of assistants. They are all former athletes on the team.”

The team will race at home today against Liberty and Mount Si starting at 4 p.m. and will travel next Wednesday, Oct. 6 to Interlake for a meet against the Saints and Juanita.

The Islanders only home meet of the season is Oct. 13 at Luther Burbank Park, starting at 4 p.m.