LANGLEY — With ranks depleted on both the boys and girls sides, Arlington vied in the South Whidbey Invite anyway for the chance to preview the district course.

Still feeling out the competition early in the season, senior Sean Gregory tested out the lead within the first mile of the varsity 5k. Gregory comes off of a district championship in the mile during his junior track season.

“Sean’s decided he’s going to challenge himself,” Arlington coach Mike Shierk explained. “I think he knows going out like that isn’t a good strategy, so he intentionally backed off there.”

Gregory went on to lead the Arlington boys with a 16:56 time for a 38th place finish.

The boys took 16th place overall, but missed runners.

The next Arlington runners finished more than a minute behind their captain. Sophomore Jacob Fure was second for the team with a time of 18:06 followed by junior Aaron Newsome in 18:13. Sophomores James Clark and Devin Swanson finished back to back at 117th and 118th overall in 18:47 and 18:48 to round out the scoring five.

Swanson got the varsity nod at South Whidbey after winning an earlier junior varsity meet.

“We’re trying to create intersquad competition,” Shierk said.

While the boys were missing Daniel Murray, the girls were missing three of their varsity regulars as they finished in 18th place, ahead of Edmonds-Woodway.

Sophomore Kristin Wregglesworth finished first for the girls in 63rd place and a time of 20:56, followed by fellow sophomore Bryna Prause in 21:13, good for 72nd place.

Running only five girls — unlike the boys, who sent out seven varsity representatives — each one’s race contributed to the team score. Junior Amye Ellsworth finished in 103rd place in 22:30, followed by sophomore Molly Merritt in 23:22 and freshman Kyle Kilmer in 23:35.

Considering their individual times, Shierk said he was pleased.

“Looking at results from last year, everyone’s running at or better than where we were at this point last season,” he said.