FULL STORY -YAKIMA HERALD REPUBLIC-
PASCO -- For the third straight year, West Valley junior Lisa Olander found herself standing atop the medals podium at Edgar Brown Stadium.
This time, though, it wasn't for winning the 1,600 meters at the 3A state track and field championships.
No, Saturday, Olander captured the 800 title at Star Track XXVI, her comeback from an early-season groin injury complete.
She blitzed the field from start to finish, winning in 2 minutes, 14.18 seconds -- a little over a second slower than her preliminary time Friday.
"I was hoping my time would be faster," she said. "But y'know, I'm not disappointed at all with how I ran. I went as hard as I could."
And Olander didn't sound disappointed that she could not defend her title in the 1,600, which was won by Auburn sophomore Michael Paulston in 5:04.17.
"This was the right thing to do this year," Olander said of her and her coaches' decision to foresake the 1,600 and concentrate on the 800. "Next year, who knows?"
Olander, as usual, raced to the front from the opening gun, although this time she was hoping a couple others would follow to help push the pace.
When no one did, that left her alone in the 81-degree heat, and she managed only a 68-second first lap.
"That first lap was slow," she said. "I was hoping the pack would go out and take it hard. Then, I'd kick it in the second lap, accelerate each 100 and go under 2:12."