TEAM CAPSULES
Boys
Ballard Beavers
Coach: Bruce Drager.
Top returning runners: James Thompson, So.; Brian Greenleaf, So.; Jacob Johnson, Sr.
Impact newcomers: Travis Watt, Fr.; Alex Dobrinen, Fr.; Noah Dahlstrom, Fr.; Steven Hickenbottom, Fr.; Eric Bartanen, So.; Nate VanDuzer, Fr.; Blake Thomas, So.
Miscellany and outlook: Twenty-seven boys turned out and Drager is excited about potential of underclassmen. "They're going to be good in a couple years," he said.
Bishop Blanchet Braves
Coach: Leo Genest.
Top returning runners: Steve Mull, Jr.; Kevin Goodspeed, Sr.; Carlo Lozano, So.; Luke Duvall, Sr.; John Ochiltree, Sr.; Pat McAuliffe, Jr.; Sean Cameron, Sr.; Dan Lauth, Sr.; Matt Ahl, Sr. Brendon Swenson, So.; Greg Ryan, So.
Miscellany and outlook: Could be team to end Seattle Prep's four-year Metro reign.
Cleveland Eagles
Coach: David White-Espin.
Top returning runner: Kevin Torgerson, Sr.
Impact newcomers: Sam Lumsey, Jr.; Derek Neal, Jr.; Aldrin Diga, Sr.; Omer Abdilahi, Sr.
Miscellany and outlook: Cleveland wasn't able to field a team the past two years. . . . White-Espin is first-year coach. He ran at Kentridge and for Seattle University. . . . Lumsey could turn out to be among best runners in league.
Eastside Catholic Crusaders
Coach: Emmet Hogan.
Top returning runners: Alex Hudgins, Sr.; Jeff Pietz, Sr.; Clay Walton-House, Sr.; Pat Ferguson, Jr.; Ryan Durgan, So.; Aaron Jeon, So.; Patrick Reymann, So.; Rainer Gaertner, Sr.
Impact newcomers: Will Vicik, Jr.; Jesse Cook, Fr.; Mike Towbin, So.
Miscellany and outlook: Hudgins is two-time state qualifier. . . . Crusaders should finish in middle of pack.
Nathan Hale Raiders
Coach: Richard Freeman.
Top returning runners: Bruce Jackson, Sr.; Lang Reynolds, Sr.; Mario Wasie, Sr.; Semon Ambaw, So.; Bj Begelman, Jr.; Jan Critchfield, Jr.; Ziyad, Kedir, Sr.
Impact newcomer: Kenneth Chilcoat, Fr.
Miscellany and outlook: Big turnout of nearly 40 boys. . . . Could contend at district for a state team berth.
Ingraham Rams
Coach: James Snyder.
Top returning runners: Brian Lahti, Sr., Steffan Brauns, Sr.; Harrison Yu, Jr.
Miscellany and outlook: Outlook improving with several freshmen out.
Lakeside Lions
Coaches: Sally Revere, Hugh Tower.
Top returning runners: Fraser Kitchell, Jr. (second at state), Kelly Chen, Sr.; Cam Colpitts, Sr.; Kevin Smith, Sr.; Andrew Kitchell, Jr.; Nolan Sandygren, Jr.; Robin Stewart, Jr.; Colin Smith, So.; CavinKindsvogel, So.; Moses Namkung, So.; Henry Schneider, So.; Sam Haynor, Fr.; Joe Philips, Fr.; Aaron Rose, Fr.
Impact newcomers: Steve Johnson, Sr.; Scott Raker, Sr.; Cartier Stennis, Sr.; Josh Weiner, So.; Zack Dillon, So.; Michael Okimoto, So.; John Yu, So.; Tom Doggett, So.; William Chen, Fr.; Andrew Cholas-Wood, Fr.; Linus Chou, Fr.; Will Echols, Fr.; Zack Geballe, Fr.; Robert Hartley, Fr.
Miscellany and outlook: Defending state champions, although state champ Peter Furia graduated. . . . Fraser Kitchell ran race of his life to finish second at state. Twin Andrew showed guts and ran in pain to finish 47th among team entrants - if he had been 1 second slower Seattle Prep would have won team crown. . . . New coaches replace veteran Tom Pardee, who quit last spring, citing lack of support from top admininstration at school. Tower coached Lakeside to 1980 state title.
O'Dea Irish
Coach: Andy Slatt.
Top returning runners: Casey Moriarty, Sr.; Ariy-El Boynton, So.; Michael Kilburg, So.; Jeff Liboon, Sr.; Stefan Hoerschelman, Sr.; Grant Gasca, So.; Rob Legge, Jr.; Tony O'Brien, Jr.; Kevin Wren, So.; Tom Jackson, Jr.
Miscellany and outlook: Strong team would win title in many leagues, but likely to finish third or fourth in Metro.
Rainier Beach Vikings
Coach: Chris Drape.
Top returning runners: Randy Green, Sr.; Jaray House, Jr.; Glenn McCray, Jr.; Dante Peterson, Sr.; Robert Walker, Jr.; Eugene Wright, Jr.
Impact newcomers: Aaron Midkiff, Sr.; Jaland Christophe, Sr.; Phillippe Cook, Sr.
Miscellany and outlook: Drape coached cross country at Lindbergh previously. One goal of team is to develop distance runners for track team.
Seattle Prep Panthers
Coach: Mike Niggemeyer.
Top returning runners: Dan Shickich, Sr.; Carl Williams, Sr.; Nick Fuller, Sr.; Mark Ellestad, Sr.; Chris Bergman, Jr.; Karl Naden, Jr.; Patrick Bergman, So.; Jonathon Stein, So.; James Sullivan, So.
Impact newcomers: Zach Tyerman, So.; Jon Kneeland, Jr.
Miscellany and outlook: Four-time defending Metro League champions. . . . Edged Lakeside for title last year when team's No. 6 runner, Chris Bergman, finished higher at league meet than Lakeside's No. 6 entry.
Chief Sealth Seahawks
Coach: Kristine Mosher.
Top returning runner: Calvin Bressler, Sr.
Impact newcomers: Chris Faulkner, Jr.; Miles Good, Fr.; Brian Hubbs, So.
Miscellany and outlook: Small squad recently acquired some new members.
West Seattle Indians
Coaches: Tom Kramer and Ken Turner.
Top returning runner: Dieu Pham, So.
Impact newcomer: Reggie Brandon, So.
Miscellany and outlook: Lost several runners to graduation.
Girls
Ballard Beavers
Coach: Bruce Drager.
Top returning runners: Anna Thomas, Sr.; Sayaka Yoshinaga, Jr.; Lisa Niemann, So.; Jenny Lu, So.; Lindsey Moore, Jr.; Kristi Dahlstrom, Jr.; Siri Longacre, So.; Felice Lam, Sr.
Impact newcomers: Kim Langland, Fr.; Ashley Herkey, So.; Caitlin Schooley, Fr.
Miscellany and outlook: Good turnout of 26 girls. . . . Beavers should finish in top half of league. . . . Lam is three-time runner-up in state 3A tennis tournament.
Bishop Blanchet Braves
Coach: Kristin Ellis.
Top returning runners: Claire Butrymowicz, Sr. (12th in state); Kate Laughlin, Sr., Katie Doyle, So.; Theresa Hill, Sr.; Cailen Corrigan, Sr.; Clair Leighton, Sr.; Marie Draye, So.; Juli Ross, So.; Lauren Chudecke, Sr.; Rebecca Talley, So.; Molly McBride, Sr.
Impact newcomers: Noelani Kaneko, Jr. (played soccer last year, runs 1,600 in 5:03); Casey Conroy, Fr.; Catherine Ruhl, Fr.
Miscellany and outlook: Expected to repeat as league champion. . . . Strong, deep and well-organized.
Cleveland Eagles
Coach: David White-Espin.
Impact newcomer: Hop Leiu, Jr.
Miscellany and outlook: Small team.
Eastside Catholic Crusaders
Coach: Emmet Hogan.
Top returning runners: Kori Flajole, Jr.; Marian Liu, Jr.; Sarita Mullins-Williams, Jr.; Gretchen Ptacek, Sr.
Impact newcomers: Margaret Bordelon, Fr.; Lauren Hentschell, Jr.; Betsy Hansen, So.; Angie Glenn, Fr.; Paris Seabrook, Jr.
Miscellany and outlook: Crusaders look like a mid-pack team.
Nathan Hale Raiders
Coach: Richard Freeman.
Top returning runners: Cassie Berg, Sr.; Carin Berg, Jr.; Crystal Cheairs, Jr.; Deirdre Stevens, Sr.; Zoe Nebenfuhr, Sr.
Impact newcomers: Robin Brooks, Fr.; Emily Goetz, Fr.; Laura Knutzen, Fr.
Miscellany and outlook: Raiders have shot to finish in top half of league.
Holy Names Cougars
Coach: Michael Yee.
Top returning runners: Erin Schedler, Sr.; Tara Song, Sr.; Kristin Thyng, Sr.; Alexa Green, Jr.; Rebekah Sponaugle, Jr.; Mara Irby, So.
Impact newcomers: Tracy Ballinger, Sr.; Erica Bliss, So.; Ellen Pepin, So.; Emma O'Neil, Fr.
Miscellany and outlook: Likely to finish mid-pack.
Ingraham Rams
Coach: James Snyder.
Top returning runner: Andrea Hamley, Sr.
Impact newcomer: Sigrun Einarsdottir, So.
Miscellany and outlook: First-year coach Snyder shows eagerness to build program.
Lakeside Lions
Coaches: Sally Revere, Hugh Tower.
Top returning runners: Jessie Wells, Sr. (4th in state last year); Maureen Wiley, Sr.; Elizabeth Bukey, Jr.; Emma Echols, Jr.; Sarah Estill, Jr.; Erica Franklin, Jr.; Molly Montes, Jr.; Keri Backus, So.; Shara Feld, So.; Elizabeth Wells-Thulin, So.
Impact newcomers: Laura Case, Jr.; Nickie Hill, Jr.; Katie Rice, Jr.; Olga Ugarova, Jr.; Alex Wenger, Jr.; Katie Wood, Jr.; Katie Colpitts, Fr.; Rives Kitchell, Fr.
Miscellany and outlook: Among state's best teams.
Rainier Beach Vikings
Coach: Chris Drape.
Impact newcomers: Sharonda Stokes, Sr.; Vanessa Banzuela, Sr.; Chante Watkins, Sr.
Miscellany and outlook: Upbeat year because school has had difficulty fielding girls team.
Seattle Prep Panthers
Coach: Mike Niggemeyer.
Top returning runners: Claire Hirschmann, Sr.; Sally Showman, Sr.; Meagan Yogi, Sr.; Ellen Moore, Sr.; Kate Messmer, Sr.
Impact newcomers: Ray Rogers, Jr., finished in top four at state track meet in both 1,600 and 3,200; Katie Patneaude, So.; Shannon Johnson, Fr.; Annmarie Twining, So.
Miscellany and outlook: Definite contender for league title.
Chief Sealth Seahawks
Coach: Kristine Mosher.
Top returning runner: Katie Bryne, So.
Impact newcomer: Stephanie Arriega, Jr.
Miscellany: Small squad.
West Seattle Indians
Coaches: Tom Kramer and Ken Turner.
Top returning runners: Sheryl Bolin, Sr.; Katie Daughters, Jr.
Miscellany: Small squad.