Port Angeles cross-country runner Lauren Larson, left and Roughriders’ soccer forward Millie Long, right.

Port Angeles cross-country runner Lauren Larson, left and Roughriders’ soccer forward Millie Long, right.

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK: Port Angeles’ Lauren Larson and Millie Long

Both of our Athletes of the Week are previous winners, but they are off to such spectacular starts to their 2019 seasons that they deserve yet more accolades.

The Roughriders’ Millie Long and Lauren Larson might be the two best prep athletes on the entire Olympic Peninsula. They are on record-shattering paces so far this fall.

Long had a hat trick in helping the Riders’ soccer team knock off North Kitsap for the first time since 2000. That came after a four-goal game a week earlier in a match against Ferndale.

Long already has 17 goals in just seven matches for the undefeated Riders. How good of an athlete is she? She is also an Olympic League 2A Division basketball MVP and a state track and field champion in the 300 hurdles.

Larson has started off her 2019 cross-country season with a bang, winning her first four races by huge margins. She won the 42nd annual Salt Creek Invitational for the second straight year in

17 minutes, 31 seconds, breaking her first-place time from 2018 by a full minute.

Two of her wins this season have been by 56 seconds or more.

Larsen also ran a time of 18:32 this weekend at the Bellevue Invitational, the No. 1 time in the state among 2A girls.

More in Sports

Sequim;'s Jericho Julmist goes up for a layup against the defense of Port Angeles' Brock Hope. Also in on the play are Port Angeles' Blake Sohlberg (4), Matthew Miller (1) and Brody Pierce (11). Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News
BOYS BASKETBALL: Wolves pull away from Riders down the stretch

Raucous gym, spectacular plays in 56-43 Sequim victory

Port Angeles roughriders
GIRLS BASKETBALL: Port Angeles girls fend off Sequim comeback in fourth quarter

East Jefferson gets 30 points from Dylin Shockley in win

PREP BASKETBALL: Forks boys regroup, roll past Raymond-South Bend

Shockley drains (8) 3-pointers, scores 30 for East Jefferson girls

Chloe Gaydeski of Forks battles for a rebound over Ilwaco's Madison Smolorak on Monday in Forks. The Spartans won their Pacific 2B League opener 63-23. (Lonnie Archibald/for Peninsula Daily News)
PREP ROUNDUP: Forks girls romp; Neah Bay girls win 27th straight

Plagued by turnovers all season, the Forks girls basketball team… Continue reading

Left, Calm Beneath Castles will be shown at the Port Angeles Field Hall and Events Center on Jan. 16. Right, Jaida Wood, Pacific Lutheran University.
AREA SPORTS BRIEFS: Three Red Devils named all-state and much more

New ski film, razor clams and former Rider shines for PLU

Penina Vailolo, left, and Kay Botkin, East Jefferson girls basketball.
ATHLETES OF THE WEEK: Penina Vailolo, Kay Botkin, East Jefferson girls basketball

Penina Vailolo and Kay Botkin both had huge games last week to… Continue reading

Peninsula College's Jaiden Blackmon (24) looks for the ball from teammate Antonio Odum (11). Blackmon led the shorthanded Pirates in scoring in two straight games this weekend. (Rick Ross/Peninsula College)
COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Short-handed Peninsula men drop pair of games

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Shorthanded Peninsula men can’t overcome rash of injuries in pair of losses

Sequim Wolves
BOYS BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: Sequim boys improve to 8-0 after crushing Fife

Forks boosts record to 9-1 after win over Ilwaco

East Jefferson Rivals
PREP GIRLS ROUNDUP: East Jefferson, Neah Bay girls win

Port Angeles falls to Central Kitsap on the road