Running commentary

--4A boys

Mack Young called it "a little bit of motivation," coming into the race as a relative unknown around the state. His burst over the final 700 meters changed that, though, as the junior bested an outstanding field in 15:18, three seconds ahead of Shane Moskowitz of Central Kitsap.

Julian-Blake Cowan of Auburn Riverside and Andrew Gonzales of Southridge, both of whom finished in the top five of the 3A race last year, finished third and fourth.

"I knew there would be a big group of us going out," Young said. "I was sitting on them, hoping not to get too far back."

Mead kept the Greater Spokane League's string of state titles intact, knocking off top-ranked Henry Jackson 98-106 to give Spokane schools 21 straight big-school titles.

The Panthers' top runners, Jordan Curnutt and Jordan Baker, finished 11th and 12th to just make the medals podium.

"With GSL teams winning so many years in a row, there were a lot of expectations that the other side of the state would finally end this streak," said Mead coach Steve Kiesel.

--4A girls

Gig Harbor senior Alyssa Andrews couldn't help herself.

She'd built such a big lead over the first 2 miles of the course that she snuck a quick peek as she rounded the top of the hill in front of the 18th green to see just where her nearest rival was.

That rival was Davis' Sandra Martinez, and she was 17 seconds back. The final margin was 20 seconds as Andrews narrowly missed becoming the third runner ever to break 18 minutes since the Sun Willows course was extended to 5 kilometers in 1997.

"I didn't expect it at all. This course is all hills," said Andrews, who finished in 18:00. "I just kept thinking, 'Keep it rolling. Don't lose the lead.' I was just afraid."

Andrews was hoping to earn "the best senior gift ever" and combine her individual title with a fourth straight team title for the Tides, but they came up one point short of Eastlake, 96-97.

"They're bitterly disappointed right now," said Gig Harbor coach Patty Ley, whose team also was denied a title in 2004 on a sixth-place tiebreaker. "Eastlake ran phenomenally well."

--3A boys

With North Central dominating the team race, it would be easy to overlook an outstanding race by Mount Rainier's Michael Miller, the Alaska transplant who pulled away from NC's Andrew Kimpel to win by seven seconds.

"I wish I didn't get sick on Thursday," bemoaned Kimpel, a key cog in the Indians' three consecutive titles but who will finish his storied career with two seconds and a fifth, but no individual title.

Still, Kimpel led a slew of NC runners across the line: Jeff Howard third, Ben Johnston fourth, Leon Dean fifth. When Alexander Avila crossed in 11th, the Indians secured a 24-point score, second-best in state history.

Coach Jon Knight pointed to the seniors -- Kimpel, Howard and Dean -- for setting the course for his team, which is ranked No. 1 in the nation.

"Those three all year have led us," he said. "In workouts, races, ethics as a team, honor as a team. They're just nice, quality young men."

--3A girls

Different race, different competition, same smiling face for Shadle Park's Andrea Nelson.

The returning 4A state champ never lost the pack but instead ran a steady pace and wasn't really challenged past the midpoint. She finished in 18:25, 10 seconds ahead of Seattle Prep's Carey Parker.

"I was so happy," said Nelson, who had an inconsistent season. "It felt like at every invitational, I was sick or something. It was an interesting season. I'm glad for the way it ended."

Hanford sophomore Erin Hegarty, who placed 10th last year, improved to sixth, finishing in 18:56.

Mercer Island won its first championship, finishing 19 points ahead of Seattle Prep. The Islanders were led by freshman Lindsay Benster, who finished third in 18:39. North Kitsap, which finished fourth, earned its first-ever state trophy.

--2A boys

Selah's James Currell had plenty of reason to empty his tank, leading a grueling pace in the small-school race that left several of the top competitors pulling themselves off the ground after crossing the finish line.

"I really, really wanted to win today," said Currell, who finished in 16:06 with six more runners practically throwing themselves across the line in the next five seconds. "My oldest brother (Mark), seven years ago he was winning the race, and then he went off the course three times" and finished sixth.

Tumwater's Steve Acosta, who finished fifth, was still feeling the effects a good 10 minutes after the race.

"After the first mile I was OK, but the second and third mile, my legs started to go," he said. "My entire body was numb -- my arms are still tingling."

Clinton Overman and Scott Carlyle finished second and fourth, respectively, to lead Sehome to the team title, its second in four years after winning the 3A title in 2005.

--2A girls

A year ago, Sequim's Allison Cutting was just cutting her teeth as a runner, having switched from soccer to cross country and finishing 21st at the state meet.

This year, though, she cut the field down to size, passing defending champion Ruby Roberts of Kingston in the final half-mile and pulling away for a nine-second victory in 18:25, a 2A meet record.

"I was physically and mentally prepared for this," said Cutting, a junior who had never beaten Roberts and lost to her by 10 seconds at districts last week.

"I totally blanked that fact out of my mind," she continued. "I just kept telling myself, 'I'm stronger. If I get in front, I'm going to stay in front.' "

Sehome edged out Cedarcrest by six points to capture its third consecutive team title. The Mariners have won four overall since 2002.

--1A boys

Kiona-Benton senior Jose Marcial grabbed the lead at the mile mark and even cut off Port Townsend's Quinton Decker as they maneuvered around a pole making the turn in front of the finish line.

That was the last time Decker slowed down for anyone. The senior got past Marcial and opened up a big lead by the 2-mile mark, eventually winning by 14 seconds over teammate Bereket Piatt in 15:56.

"Our whole goal was to go 1-2," Decker said.

Decker had twice finished fifth in the 2A race as a junior and a freshman.

"I spent the first mile feeling out the pack and seeing how well they'd do," he said. "I just get that feeling when I know it's time to go."

Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) won its second title in three years, beating out 2004 champion Charles Wright Academy by 20 points.

--1A girls

Northwest's Maddie Meyers didn't take all the shine off Olivia Thomas' day, but she did keep the King's senior from repeating. The freshman dominated the race, loping to a 41-second win in 18:53.

"I just thought I'd stay with her for the first 11/2 miles, and it worked out really well," said Meyers, the first 1A runner ever to break 19 minutes on the 5K course. "We were pushing each other."

That lasted for about two miles before Meyers took off and crossed the finish line without another runner in sight.

King's still had a big day, though, with Thomas and Adele Eslinger (sixth) leading the Knights to a 31-point win over La Center.

It was King's third straight title, matching its performance from 2001-03.

--2B/1B boys

While Valley Christian's Jeff Pope didn't surprise himself with the pace he set, he sure caught his opponents off-guard.

"I've never seen him run that hard, and I race him every week," said Odessa's Scott Strang, who finished second but was 40 seconds behind Pope.

"I thought I might go out a little fast," the Spokane senior said, adding that once he felt the field dropping back, "I've got it now. I'm not going to slow down."

Justin Holden and Micah Cushman finished third and fourth, leading Northwest Christian (Lacey) to its first boys title in any sport.

The Navigators, who placed two more runners in the top 10, thought the title came one year later than it should have.

"We came in expecting to win, and that was the wrong thing to do," Holden said of last season's distant second to St. George's. "We still expect to win this year, but we knew we had to run the best race we can to win."

--2B/1B girls

Trout Lake-Glenwood senior Neola Putnam broke away from a three-runner pack in the final mile to win in 19:18, beating St. George's senior Kate Reidy by 19 seconds.

"I let them set the pace at the beginning and figured I'll just finish strong," Putnam said. "Last year, Katie got me at the very end of the race (Reidy was fourth, Putnam fifth), and I didn't want that to happen again."

Northwest Christian (Lacey) remained the only school ever to win the title since the B's got their own meet in 2006, winning for the third straight year.