PREP BOYS TRACK: Stanwood vaulter settles for second Michael Cane May 25, 2008

By Mike Cane
Herald Writer

PASCO -- Nathan Simunds knows he has more in him. He'll have to prove it somewhere else.

 

Simunds matched his personal record and then nearly went 3 inches higher before settling for second place in the Class 4A boys pole vault competition Friday during the 3A/4A state track and field championships at Edgar Brown Memorial Stadium.

 

Simunds, a Stanwood High School senior, matched his school record by clearing 15 feet. In his first attempt at 15-3 Simunds had plenty of height but knocked the bar off on his way down. He eventually placed second behind Inglemoor's Ian Quinn, the only competitor who vaulted 15-3.

Why Everett's J Hopkins stands out on the track Michael Cane Mar 22, 2008

By Mike Cane
Herald Writer

J Hopkins is different. He stands out on the track. Doug Hall, who coaches Hopkins at Everett High School, is beginning his ninth season leading the Seagulls track and field program. Runners like Hopkins don't come around very often, said Hall.

Thomas lives up to expectations, leads King\'s to 1A title Michael Cane Nov 08, 2007

By Mike Cane
Herald Writer

PASCO -- Towering expectations can mess with an athlete's mind. Olivia Thomas knows all about it.

Last year Thomas was the runner-up in the Class 1A girls race at the state cross country championships. The winner was a senior, which made Thomas the favorite this season.

A few days ago the junior from King's High School started getting increasingly nervous leading up to this year's state meet.

"I was thinking, 'Oh my gosh! I have a race (Saturday) and all the expectations are on me, and everyone's expecting me to do really well," Thomas said.

Despite her worries, Thomas sure lived up to the hype.

Thomas Albertson, Cascade cross country Michael Cane Sep 14, 2007

Thomas Albertson's dream of becoming a varsity runner nearly ended two years ago when he was hit by a car while riding a bike. But Albertson, who suffered a concussion and sprained an ankle in the accident, persevered, trained hard and eventually achieved his goal. Now he's a multi-talented co-captain who savors a chance to lead the Bruins.

Young King\'s girls team wins title, boys take 2nd Michael Cane Nov 04, 2006

By Mike Cane Herald Writer PASCO - Is it possible to run conservatively and still get what you want? Most definitely. The King\'s High School girls held back a bit on Saturday, according to their coach, but still won the Class 1A team title at the state cross country championships at Sun Willows Golf Course. Sophomore Olivia Thomas placed second and freshman Adele Eslinger took 12th to spur King\'s to its first state title since 2003, when it won the last of three straight championships. \"We ran well,\" King\'s coach Rod Wilcox said. \"Maybe a little conservative, but we have a lot of young girls that haven\'t been to state before so they were playing it a little safe.\"

Lakewood boys just miss out on trophy Michael Cane Nov 04, 2006

By Mike Cane Herald Writer PASCO - One point. That\'s all that separated the Lakewood High School boys cross country team from a trip to the awards podium Saturday at the state championships at Sun Willows Golf Course. Lakewood scored 169 points to finish fifth in Class 2A behind fourth-place Ellensburg (168), which hoisted one of the trophies presented to the top four teams. But even before meet officials announced the final team scores, Lakewood co-head coach Jeff Sowards made it clear that he was proud of how his runners attacked the 3.1-mile course. No hardware, or lack of hardware, was going to change that.

Snohomish repeats in fourth Michael Cane Nov 04, 2006

By Mike Cane Herald Writer PASCO - Kara Sporrong struggled to grasp the finality of it all. \"I can\'t believe it\'s done, but I guess I\'m moving on to creating new memories in college,\" said Sporrong, a senior on the Snohomish High School girls cross country team. Sporrong helped the Panthers win the fourth-place Class 4A trophy Saturday at the state championships at Sun Willows Golf Course. Fourth place is a respectable showing, but the third-ranked Panthers (Washington State Cross Country Coaches Poll) always aim to be the best. And Sporrong, Snohomish\'s senior co-captain, certainly didn\'t envision capping her final prep cross country season with a 22nd-place finish.

Bywater bounces back to take 2nd Michael Cane Nov 04, 2006

By Mike Cane Herald Writer PASCO - Everyone has a bad day now and then. Joey Bywater had one a week ago - at least for a runner of his caliber - when he faded to a fifth-place finish at the Class 4A District 1 cross country meet. But the best way to ease the sting of a frustrating performance is to follow it up with a grand one, and Bywater, a Lake Stevens junior, did just that on Saturday. Bywater bounced back in a big way to place second in the 4A boys race at the state cross country championships at Sun Willows Golf Course. \"I came back and got second, which I can\'t complain about. I ran as hard as I could,\" said Bywater, whose No. 2 finish is the best ever for a Lake Stevens boy. Bywater, who won the 4A 3,200-meter state track title last spring, and junior Kyle VanSanten (14th) helped the Vikings win the fourth-place team trophy for the second consecutive year. Ferris (51 points) held off Mead (72) and Central Valley (92) for its fourth straight championship. After briefly leading just after the 1-mile mark, Bywater finished second behind winner Cameron Quackenbush of Ferris. Quackenbush, who headlined Ferris\' team-championship victory, completed the 3.1-mile course in 15 minutes, 44 seconds. Bywater crossed in 15:48, followed closely by Mariner senior Dak Riek (15:49).

Everett boys, Meadowdale girls earn state berths Michael Cane Oct 30, 2006

By Mike Cane Herald Writer LANGLEY - It\'s all about attitude. Sure, the Everett High School boys cross country team could have slacked off this year after dropping from Class 4A competition to the 3A level. But that would have stopped the Seagulls short of their potential. And boy, what potential they have. Everett runners Axel Stanovsky, Logan Ordona and Arian Anderson finished first, second and fourth, respectively, on Saturday to propel the Seagulls to victory at the 4A, 3A and 2A District 1 boys cross country championships at South Whidbey High

Lucky number seven Michael Cane Oct 30, 2006

Snohomish\'s Kara Sporrong won the district meet in record time and the Panthers won their seventh consecutive district team title. By Mike Cane Herald Writer LANGLEY - When you\'re used to being on top, you do whatever it takes to avoid falling from that lofty perch. Just ask the Snohomish High School girls cross country team. \"We have a legacy to hold onto, and when you have that there you don\'t want to be the people to let it down,\" said Snohomish senior Kara Sporrong.

Running for state Michael Cane Oct 29, 2006

Area teams face tough competition in their quest for a trip to Pasco. By Mike Cane Herald Writer Bailey Granstrom better be careful. She almost derailed her quest for another trip to Pasco. Last Saturday the Lake Stevens High School senior smacked her left shoulder on a metal pole as she maneuvered through a gate early in the Western Conference North Division girls cross country championship race at Lakewood High. Granstrom, a senior, overcame the pain and placed third, but the collision left her pretty sore. \"I whacked it pretty good. It hurts,\" said Granstrom, who laughed about her clumsy moment.

A lot riding on Riek\'s win Michael Cane Oct 29, 2006

Mariner senior wins South race; Jackson takes team title By Mike Cane Herald Writer LAKEWOOD - Dak Riek had plenty of motivation to run well this weekend. On Friday Riek\'s coach warned the Mariner High School senior that if he didn\'t quickly build a solid lead on Saturday in the Western Conference South Division boys cross country championship race, his punishment would be to run all the way back to south Everett - a nearly 30-mile trek. Of course, Mariner coach Dave McFadden was joking with Riek. But the talented senior sure ran as if his ride home depended on it.

Lake Stevens boys conquer Michael Cane May 21, 2006

Elizabeth Armstrong / The Herald
Lake Stevens\' Joey Bywater (center) shakes hands with Everett\'s Jake Helmer after upsetting Helmer in the 3,200-meter run Friday. Bywater ran the ran in 9:08.71 while Helmer, who was favored, finished second with a time of 9:12.44. Both advance to state.

By Mike Cane
Herald Writer

STANWOOD - With about 250 meters to go, Lake Stevens\' Joey Bywater took a chance.

Nice move.

Two days after sticking close to Everett High star Jeff Helmer but eventually placing second in the 1,600-meter race, Bywater broke through by passing Helmer in the final lap en route to a breakthrough victory in the 3,200. The Vikings\' sophomore overtook Helmer, the 2005 Class 4A state champ in the 3,200, and won in a meet-record time of 9 minutes, 8.71 seconds. It was one of many highlights for Lake Stevens during the final, drizzly day of the 4A District 1 boys track and field championships at Stanwood High.

Lake Stevens scored 151 points to win the team championship, its first district title since 2000. Everett (122) was second and Cascade (74) was third.

Bywater appeared to be smiling as he cruised toward the finish, though he said it\'s an involuntary reaction that sometimes happens near the end of races. He was clearly happy, though.

\"I still don\'t believe that I was able to do it. ... I knew I was going to PR, but I couldn\'t have expected anything better than that.\"

Bywater didn\'t just set a personal record - he annihilated his previous best of 9:27.86 and bested Helmer\'s meet record time of 9:14.89, set a year ago.

\"I just told myself I could do it,\" Bywater said of defeating Helmer, an Arizona State University recruit who won the 4A cross country crown this past fall.

\"I\'m sure it was everything to him,\" said Helmer, who finished in 9:12.44. \"I\'ve felt the pressure all year long, almost as if I\'ve had a target on my back.\"

Sometimes you need a wakeup call, said Helmer, adding that he hopes to peak for several national meets this summer.

\"I can only go faster from here,\" Helmer said.

Mariner junior Dak Riek of Mariner was third in the 3,200 (9:25.72). The top three boys in each individual event and the top three relay teams qualify for state.

E-W runner dominates the South distance races Michael Cane May 14, 2006

t\'s a great feeling to be on top of your game and yet know that there\'s still plenty left in the tank. Welcome to Kate Southcote-Want\'s world. \"I feel fast, and I feel like I have more in me,\" said Southcote-Want, an Edmonds-Woodway junior who completed a distance sweep by winning the 1,600-meter race in five minutes, 13.45 seconds Friday during the Western Conference South Division girls track and field championships at Edmonds District Stadium.

Distance Ace Not Out for Jackson Track Michael Cane Apr 08, 2006

Distance ace not out for Jackson track By Mike Cane Herald Writer Jeff Helmer, one of the nation\'s elite distance runners, is no longer a member of the Jackson High track and field team. Helmer, a senior ranked No. 1 among Class 4A boys in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter events by Washington Track Weekly, said Sunday he quit the Jackson track squad and will not defend his 3,200 state championship this spring.

Helmer Wins STATE Title Michael Cane Jan 09, 2006

Helmer Finds Dream Jackson senior wins Class 4A boys championship

By Mike Cane
Herald Writer

PASCO - As a particularly massive gust of wind blasted his body, Jeff Helmer experienced a rare moment of uncertainty. Maybe the dream he\'d worked toward since he was in the seventh grade simply wasn\'t meant to be.