The most recent high school cross country coaches rankings have come out, days ahead of the state meet this weekend in Pasco.
The Mercer Island boys qualified for the state contest, and have been ranked No. 9 in the state. This is a step up for the team after being ranked No. 10 last week. The girls dropped out of the ranking after not qualifying for the state meet as a team. Last week they were ranked No. 6.

Here’s the complete 3A boys ranking: 1. North Central (Spokane); 2. Bishop Blanchet (Seattle); 3. Belelvue; 4. Peninsula (Gig Harbor); 5. Mount Spokane; 6. Seattle Prep; 7. Lindbergh (Renton); 8. Columbia River (Vancouver); 9. Mercer Island; 10. Everett

See next week’s issue for a recap of the state meet with local results.

Below is the top 10 3A cross country teams as voted on by the Cross Country Coaches Association. The Mercer Island girls team has held onto the No. 6 spot for several weeks and the boys team makes their first appearance in the rankings at No. 10.

Boys 3A — 1, North Central (Spokane); 2, Bellevue; 3, Mount Spokane; 4, Peninsula (Gig Harbor); 5, North Kitsap (Poulsbo); 6, Bishop Blanchet (Seattle); 7, Seattle Prep; 8, Lindbergh (Renton); 9, Columbia River (Vancouver); 10, Mercer Island

Girls 3A — 1, Glacier Peak (Snohomish); 2, Shadle Park (Spokane); 3, Mount Spokane; 4, North Kitsap (Poulsbo); 5, Columbia River (Vancouver); 6, Mercer Island; 7, Capital (Olympia); 8, Seattle Prep; 9, Bellevue; 10, Enumclaw

The teams will be running tomorrow afternoon in the Sea-King District meet at Lake Sammamish State Park in Issaquah. The girls race will kick the afternoon off beginning at 2:30 p.m. while the boys event will follow at 3:15.

On the line is a chance to qualify for the state meet in Pasco on Nov. 7. In the boys race the KingCo league is alloted four team qualifications and 20 individuals, which includes any runner who finishes in the top 30 overall, but whose team does not qualify. The KingCo girls have five team allocations and places for 25 individual runners. The Mercer Island girls are looking to repeat their state championship from last season.

Next week marks the last week of the regular season for many of Mercer Island’s fall sports. For some the post season hunt has already begun, like cross country and boys golf.
The cross country teams will head to Issaquah for the KingCo league meet on Thursday afternoon and the boys golf team is looking to score a win at the district tournament to complete their season in undefeated fashion. Swimming is also undefeated, looking to take down Bothell this afternoon before Bainbridge on Tuesday. The KingCo Championships will be held Thursday, Oct. 29 at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way. The boys tennis team also remains undefeated this season, putting an 8-0 dent on the season thus far.
As the season winds down and the wins become so much more important for playoff potential here is a quick look at where the KingCo 3A league is in volleyball, girls soccer and football.

Volleyball
Mount Si       9-0 (10-1)
Mercer Island  7-2 (8-4)
Interlake     4-4 (6-5)
Juanita     4 -5 (4-7)
Bellevue     3-5  (3-7)
Liberty     3-5 (5-6)
Sammamish     0-9

Girls soccer
Mercer Island  8-1-0 (10-2-1)
Sammamish     4-2-2 (5-3-3)
Mount Si     3-3-3 (4-6-3)
Juanita     3-3-2 (3-3-6)
Liberty     2-2-4 (2-6-4)
Bellevue     2-5-1 (5-6-1)
Interlake     1-7-0 (4-8-0)

Football
Bellevue       3-0 (4-2)
Liberty     3-0 (6-0)
Interlake     3-1 (5-1)
Juanita     2-1 (5-1)
Mount Si     1-2 (3-3)
Mercer Island 0-4 (1-5)
Sammamish     0-4 (1-5)

In other news, in the Cross Country Coaches Association weekly team rankings the Mercer Island girls team was ranked sixth overall. Glacier Peak of Snohomish was first, Shadle Park of Spokane second, Mount Spokane third, North Kitsap fourth, Columbia River of Vancouver, fifth, Capital of Olympica seventh, Seattle Prep eighth, Bellevue ninth and Enumclaw 10th.