Thousands of miles logged by South Whidbey’s cross country runners paid off Saturday at the South Whidbey/Carl Westling Invitational.

Out of 37 teams — divided between junior varsity and varsity, and large and small schools — South Whidbey made a statement about its program with a second-place boys finish and a sixth-place girls finish.

In the Falcons’ first full 5,000-meter cross country race of the season, South Whidbey’s veteran-led boys team finished in second place in the Division 2 race for smaller schools. Only Meridian, a school from the Northwest Conference, outpaced South Whidbey.

“I think we showed these other schools that we can run, we can compete,” said Falcon senior Cole Zink. “We’re not just some small island school.”

Zink was the Falcons’ top finisher and the only one to place in the top 10. His time of 17:43.73 landed him in eighth place.

Six of South Whidbey’s seven varsity boys finished in the top half of the 90-person field. Fellow seniors Anders Bergquist and Truman Hood trucked to both finish in the top 20. Bergquist placed 15th in 18:11.84. Hood recorded a personal 5,000-meter record of 18:24.67, good for 20th place.

South Whidbey’s seventh racer, sophomore Collin Burns, ran a personal-best 19:35.59.

Will Simms, a sophomore, came in at 18:41.60; and sophomore Cory Ackerman in 18:42.81. Evan Mellish, a junior, finished in 19:09.85. 

“The guys were working hard all summer,” Zink said. “It’s been great running with them. It’s fun.”

South Whidbey’s girls were pushed by The Northwest School, which took first place. Of note, however, is that the Falcons again bested 1A Cascade Conference rival King’s, which finished in seventh place behind South Whidbey.

Mallorie Mitchem, a Falcon junior, led her team in 11th place after coming in at 21:23.15. Emma Lungren, a senior, placed 21st in 22:13.94 even after slipping and falling during the trail run — the evidence showing on her legs and arms.

“I tripped, actually, and fell and skidded and have a Band-Aid and I’m all scraped up but I passed two girls after that,” Lungren said. “It made it all worth it.”

A pair of Falcons ran their first high school 5 kilometer-race. Falcon freshman Elizabeth Donnelly finished in 22:45.93 for 29th place; and Iona Rohan, a junior, finished in 23:24.65 for 37th place.

Bethany Justus, a sophomore, finished in 24:47.51. Junior Anna Justus finished in 25:36.10. Clara Martin, a junior, set her career time at 25:52.96.

“The whole system is designed for the number two runner to push number one, number three push number two,” Lungren said of the Falcons’ pack running style. “I felt Elizabeth behind me the whole time.”

South Whidbey High School’s next home meet will be the District 1 championships for 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A schools in San Juan, Whatcom, Skagit, Island and Snohomish counties. The district meet is Saturday, Nov. 1, and will feature many of the same schools as the South Whidbey/Carl Westling Invitational.