West Seattle High School's top cross country runners put their last regular season meet to good use Thursday as a tune-up for next Thursday's Metro League Championships.

Kyle MacDonald established himself as a sub-19 minute runner on any course. His time of 18:49 on the demanding trails of Lower Woodland completed a portfolio that already contained similar credentials on two other courses.

Boys' team captain Jacob Nauss recorded his first sub-20 minute performance at Lower Woodland. His personal record of 19:58 was a gratifying half-minute improvement on a course that thwarted him all season.

Cooper Sinai-Yunker's 20:18 was a personal record by 11 seconds, and Jack Hilton held his own at 21:14.

Kylen Johnson was again the star of the day for the West Seattle teams. Her unchallenged third place, behind two strong competitors from Bainbridge Island, completed a five-meet regular season in which she also raced to two seconds and two firsts.

Rounding out the five scoring runners, behind Johnson, were Chelsea Jackson, Mel Frey, and Kristen Watkins, all with personal records, and Joey Jacinto.

With the regular season wrapped up, the 2006 "Iron Wildcat" award, if there were one, would go to sophomore William Batts. He is the only member of either team to run in all five Metro League meets plus both optional weekend invitationals.

Other West Seattleites acquitting themselves well were Gavin Carew (Seattle Prep) 22:11, Ron Thompson (Cleveland High) 23:13, and Ellen Teel (Ingraham High) 23:15.

For the league championships, cross country mutates from a no-cut sport to a varsity sport. Coach Annette Silvernale will name seven boys and seven girls to constitute her two varsity teams. The meets take place Oct. 19 at Lower Woodland.

John Leonard can be reached via wseditor@robinsonnews.com