19 September, 2009 Shadle Park H.S., Spokane, WA
Distance: 2.5 Miles
Story by: David "Hawaiian Five-Oh" Taylor
| BOYS COMBINED (FR-SO-JR-SR RACES) | GIRLS VARSITY |
| 1. US#4 FERRIS (12:55 AVG) | 1. US#7 SHADLE PARK (34 PTS) |
| 2. US#15 KAMIAKIN (13:06 AVG) (4 OF 7 WITH FLU!) | 2. RICHLAND (122 PTS) |
| 3. SOUTHRIDGE H.S. (13:21 AVG) | 3. CENTRAL VALLEY (SPO) (147 PTS) |
| 4. MEAD H.S. (13:28 AVG) | 4. WENATCHEE (166 PTS) |
SPOKANE HISTORY 101
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| FAN LAKE, CAMP REED |
Week by week the coaches of the Spokane XC tradition have been bringing me up to speed on the amazing running family and history they share up here. In 1915 a place for kids to be kids was established at Fan Lake just north of Spokane on the acreage of Frank and Emma Reed. It has been known for 84 years as Camp Reed. Former Washington Congressman and Speaker of the House Tom Foley worked at Camp Reed, but also many of today's notable coaches built lasting relationships which continue to grow each week during the Spokane Fall Cross Country season.
For Example, the nicknames. Under Legendary Coach Tracy Walters many of the leaders
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| "DINGY DON" KARDONG |
in the running community first worked together and in doing so grew bonds that spurred nicknames that have stretched decades. There is Shadle coach Bob Isitt who is known as "Rapid Robert", there is Bloomsday's Don Kardong otherwise known as "Dingy Don", there is Shadle boy's head coach Bruce Heffercamp or "Bullfrog Bruce", there is Cheney High School coach "Doctor J Martin", and Gonzaga Prep coach Joe Feryn otherwise known as "Quasi Mojo". Relationships, that is what running is about and to hear these Spokane legends talk to each other with such passion and concern is simply breathtaking. This has in turn spread to the athletes who unlike many national counterparts actually get along regardless of team colors. They share one bond and rejoice in each others success. There is no jealousy, only support, encouragement, and a bond that can only be described as a Spokane Legacy a century in the making.
US#15 SHADLE GIRLS UNBELIEVABLE!
TAKE 3RD, 4TH, 5TH, 10TH, AND 12TH
In this job it is important to remain unbiased and to give everyone an opportunity to shine. However, once in a while, perhaps a few times in a lifetime, something happens that reignites that passion that got us all involved in the sport of cross country. The very first time I ever heard of cross country was in 1991 when a friend of mine asked me to come watch this kid named Jason Uhlman run state in Lewiston, Idaho. In that race Jason ran behind this guy named Rich McCandless of I think Post Falls, Idaho through the first mile and then proceeded to dominate over the last two miles in such a manner that he sent such a chill up my spine that I immediately went to my school P.E. teacher Harold VanTine and asked how I could be a part of this sport. Jason would go on to place 12th at Kinney (footlocker) Nationals and become named a High School All-American.
Today, I went to the Highlander Invitational knowing that the amazing US#6 Ferris Boys would be split up into class races, and that nearly every good boys team wouldn't be together due to this. US#15
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| SHADLE RELAXED |
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| MIRES (MEAD) AND SHADLE PRESSING |
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| MIRES (MEAD) AND SHADLE BREAKING AWAY |
Kamiakin was in attendance, but half their team suffered from a tremendous flu, so it seemed unlikely That anything truly significant would occur. So I was kind of excited about the girls race in which all varsity competitors would be unified. 26 teams on one line with all the girls present. I figured Mead, led by Baylee Mires had a shot, in such a large field, to potentially catch Shadle. I figured that the Central Valley girls had the tools to give them a run, in such a large field. What I did not count on was the absolute thrashing Shadle Park would give their sister teams of Washington state. And it almost didn't happen.
As the gun fired the enormous girls field made it about 50 yards when Shadle Park standout and two time state champion Andrea Nelson fell to the ground as the girls jossled the first tight turn. As I stared shocked at the outcome of such a disaster the starter displayed remarkable judgment in recalling the race. How would the fall affect Andrea? How would it affect the team? Or the field? Did that singular moment zap the energy out of the remarkable passion that has been displayed by the Highlander girls of Shadle Park over the season thus far?
"Bang" the gun fires a second time and amazingly all seven Shadle girls responded with the fortitude of a Championship Boxer and immediately assumed 7 of the top 10 spots. Over the next mile the field began to string out due to the amazingly quick pace that State 1600 and 800 meter Champion Baylee Mires put forth. She pressed and pressed and everyone fell by the wayside, except the girls of Shadle Park. I was utterly speechless as I watched the sheer dominance on display upon the mushy, sloppy, curvy Shadle course. However, that was not the best part, it was still to come.
With a half mile to go Shadle had 4 girls in the top 10, and a fifth sitting in 22nd place, her name is Shayle Dezellem. As she passed the signature yellow and green water tower I noticed that she visibly seemed to press her eyebrows down into a really stern look, changing her entire countenance. Immediately she stood up a bit taller and her stride began to lengthen, her pace began to pick up and within 50 meters she blew past a group of girls. As the finishline grew closer her pace quickened, the urgency mounted, an urgency that was met with an energy that seemed to come from a different place, a different world,
Shayle was in that place we call "the zone". I felt a chill go down my spine as she made up over 200
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| COACH "RAPID ROBERT" ISITT! |
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| SHADLE GIRLS HAPPY! (SEVEN IS ONE!) |
meters in the final quarter mile and passed 10 girls in the process. It has been nearly 18 years since I felt such an exhilaration and excitement for any race, that chill. It was like I was no longer reporting on an event from the outside looking in, it was as if that passion for overcoming adversity moved out from Dezellem's heart and projected upon all those who watched and cheered in amazement as she sprinted the last 100 meters like it was the 100 meter dash at State Track. I am going to guess that many 100 meter runners felt intimidated by the fortitude and will Dezellum displayed.
In the end, this is all I have to say, over the last 18 years I have witnessed all americans run, incredibly low scores achieved, and amazing times produced, but I have never witnessed such dominance and grit by any team in relation to the circumstances, as I did with the girls of Shadle Park today. No one can tell the future, or guess what the season holds for this team, but I feel confident in saying that the ladies of Shadle Park broke through a barrier today. They are running on a completely different level then their peers and simply were unbelievable at the Highlander Invitational in Spokane, Washington as they placed 3rd (Andrea Nelson 14:50), 4th (Kendra Weitz 14:52), 5th (Katie Morris 15:14), 10th (Chelsea Chandler 15:40), 12th (Shayle Dezellem 15:50), 25th (Megan Inman 16:16), and 78th (Michaela Lindley 17:11).
US#6 FERRIS BOYS TAKE SENIOR RACE, LED BY US#16 ADAM THORNE
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| FERRIS SENIORS AT THE FRONT |
Cross Country juggernaut Ferris High School finished off a difficult week of three races in 6 days as Adam Thorne leads the seniors to a convincing Senior Boys Race victory. Finishing the 2.5 mile course in 12:26, Adam Thorne entered a realm occupied by only the elite of the nation. Placing 5 seniors in the top 20, Ferris are a solid example of hard work, determination, and perseverance as they prepare for the Nationally loaded Stanford Invitational. Paced by Adam Thorne (1st), Ferris was supported in victory by Justin Zimmerman (7th), Scott Davis (11th), Perry Domini (14th), and Jeremy Gavelin (20th). Amazing considering that the Ferris #2 Alex Kimsey and Ferris #3 Tim Colliton competed in different races. These guys have been on a different level since the season began and I would not be surprised if they shock the nation at Stanford after a weeks rest.
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| ADAM THORNE | JUSTIN ZIMMERMAN | SCOTT DAVIS | PERRY DOMINI |
RANKINGS SHAKE UP
Stay tuned for a rankings shake up with monday's Evergreen Elite weekly team and individual rankings. Additionally, watch the national FAB 15 and SWEET 16 releases very closely!!!
RACE PREVIEW
The 2009 Highlander Invitational will feature over 30 teams from all Washington class divisions competing on the curvy Shadle Park.
FEATURING:
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| US#15 SHADLE PARK GIRLS | US#15 KAMIAKIN BOYS | US#6 FERRIS BOYS |
| 2.5 MILES | 09:30AM | FRESHMAN BOYS | RESULTS |
| 2.5 MILES | 10:00AM | FRESHMAN GIRLS | RESULTS |
| 2.5 MILES | 10:30AM | SOPHOMORE BOYS | RESULTS |
| 2.5 MILES | 11:00AM | JUNIOR VARSITY GIRLS | RESULTS |
| 2.5 MILES | 11:30AM | JUNIOR BOYS | RESULTS |
| 2.5 MILES | 12:00AM | VARSITY GIRLS | RESULTS |
| 2.5 MILES | 12:30AM | SENIOR BOYS | RESULTS |