CK cruises behind Moskowitz twins

LAKEWOOD — It’s all about pride for the Moskowitz family.

For the boys and girls cross country teams at Central Kitsap, that’s good news. Both teams were led by the sophomore twins Wednesday at the Narrows League Cross Country Championships at Fort Steilacoom Park.

“It’s fun because we both made varsity and she makes me push whenever she does well,” Shane Moskowitz said.

Shannon Moskowitz was the Cougars’ only top-10 finisher for the girls earlier in the afternoon when she finished at 19 minutes, 27.05 seconds to place ninth. Bellarmine Prep’s Nicole Cochran (18:08.21) easily topped second-place Gig Harbor runner Alyssa Andrews (18:24.15) for the championship.

The top 30 boys and girls qualified for the Oct. 27 district meet at American Lake Golf Course in Lakewood. Brittany Siegrist (20:29.52, 21st), Allie Rue (20:36.56) and Maggie Crow (20:49.54) were the other CK qualifiers. But because the top six teams also qualified for districts, the Cougars will take the entire team next week. Gig Harbor placed first with 37 points, while CK (131) was sixth among nine teams.

“Most of them (had personal-best times),” CK coach John Emery said. “You can’t ask for anything more than that.”

Shane Moskowitz was determined to do better — and not just from a team standpoint.

“I know she’s a good runner, but I always want to try and beat her and she always wants to try and beat me,” he said, referring to his sister.

He accomplished that by placing third at 15:53.05, behind Gig Harbor’s Miles Unterreiner (15:20.71) and Wilson’s Kevin Rosaaen (15:40.13). Moskowitz said the time was one second off his personal best.

“I stayed with (Olympia’s Colin O’Leary) and Jon Phillips from South Kitsap, but I felt good and just took off from them,” he said. “I just kept a good pace, I guess.”

Emery was happy with what he saw.

“I think he can get quite a bit better,” he said. “He hasn’t reached his potential by any means.”

Two CK boys qualified for districts in addition to Moskowitz. The others were Cascade Herriot (16:34.14, 10th) and Rustin Winger (17:02.78, 22nd). But the Cougars will be able to take the entire boys team to districts as they finished fourth among 10 teams.

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