The Mercer Island cross country team followed up its big win at the Edmonds Invitational to open the season with an in-league victory over former rival Issaquah, which moved to 4A, and new rival Garfield. The boys team won its meet by placing four runners in the top seven with sub-20-minute times. Islander Evan Sadler won the race with a time of 19:36. Teammate Quinn Chasan crossed the line three seconds later in second place. Islanders Tyler Benster (19:48) and Aaron Elefson (19:48) tied for sixth place overall. Islander James Kashima was the final runner to score for the team in 12th place (20:04).

Girls win big

The Mercer Island girls team won by a larger margin than the boys, with seven of the top eight times during the varsity race.

Islander Lindsay Benster led the pack, taking first place with a time of 18:59. Phoebe Merritt finished second for the Islanders (19:09), while Lauren Davis was third (25:10). Molly O’Callahan placed fifth overall (20:29) and Haley Piper was sixth (20:42), rounding out the scoring for the Islanders.