Port’s runners crack the top five

The Port Washington High School girls’ cross country team wasn’t going to top Division 1 powerhouse Janesville Craig at the Blackshirt Challenge in Waukesha on Saturday, but the Pirates came closer than last year.

The Pirates scored 69 points and finished second of 12 teams. Janesville Craig won with 40.

“Last year they scored 30 points and we had a 100, so we closed it in on them,” coach Joe Adamak said.

Sophomore Bethany Stacey finished the 5,000-meter course in 21 minutes, 19 seconds for seventh place. Senior Jill Cavanaugh wasn’t far behind with a 21:40 for ninth place and a medal.

Senior Katie Erlandson was 11th in 21:43, and sophomore Mira Stimac was 16th in 22:04. Sophomore Emma Goodman was 26th in 22:49.

“We had two in the top 10, four in the top 20. The whole key we’re going to work on is to get that fifth one down there,” Adamak said.

He said the course was muddy and slow, and he doesn’t look at times, anyway — even on the same courses — because they differ from year to year.

Pirates’ boys finish fifth

Port’s boys landed two runners in the top 20 and finished fifth with 163 points.

Mukwonago won the meet with 48 points.

Pirate senior Brett Grisar earned a medal by taking 12th in 17:39, which was 30 seconds faster than last year.

“Being that No. 1 runner sets the tone for the rest of the team, and he’s been doing a good job all year at practice,” coach Mark Pasten said.

Senior Zach Gephart was 19th in 17:56, 1:44 faster than last year.

Junior Ben Pasten neared a personal record with an 18:26, good for 26th place.

Senior Joe Burke was 46th in 19:16 and solidified his No. 4 spot, coach Pasten said.

Senior Jacob Deheck finished in 20:10 for 60th, his second meet as the No. 5 runner.

It’s good sign, Pasten said, that the fifth runner got closer to the top four than the week before.

“Each week as we progress, that will help us out at the end of the year,” he said.

On Saturday, the Pirates travel to Stevens Point for a meet.