PASCO -- Fifty-two years, 297 races. Some 245 individual champions, 45 of them repeat titlists, and seven of those three-timers.
But not once a four-time individual state cross country champion in Washington.
That likely will change today.
When Maddie Meyers toes the start line for the 1A girls race at Pasco's Sun Willows Golf Course, she will compete against the clock, history and the rest of the field -- pretty much in that order.
"It still seems kind of crazy," said Meyers, a senior from tiny Northwest School in Seattle who has run all over the country in prestigious national races and competed in France over the summer in the World Youth Championships.
"Winning a state title still is pretty cool. It still does mean a lot to me. I love the feeling of every state (meet), and especially this year."
Because of the whole four-time thing? History and all that?
"Because our team won Tri-District," she said. "That's super exciting. We were 10th last year."
Indeed, in the spirit of the rich getting richer, Meyers will have a team around her for just the second time in her career. Two years ago, Northwest finished just off the team podium. This season, it comes in as the No. 2-ranked team in the state behind Lakeside of Nine Mile Falls.
But with respect to the teams and the other individual runners, all eyes will be on Meyers.
It would take a monumental upset to dethrone her. She won by nearly 2 minutes last year, 1:36 as a sophomore. Even as a freshman, she won by 41 seconds, and that was against defending champion Olivia Thomas of King's. Thomas nows runs for Brown in the Ivy League.
"She seems to hit on a few jaw-dropping performances each year," said her coach, Joe Bisignano, noting Meyers' national youth record in the 2,000-meter steeplechase (6:32.02) that led to her trip to France with Team USA and a sixth-place overall finish at the youth games.
But, he added, she is just as valuable to the team for her work off the course.
"Maddie is one of the most gregarious, socially outgoing kids I've ever known," Bisignano said. "She is making sure we were running in costumes on Halloween. Yesterday was Neon Wednesday, and we had a lot of crazy neon stuff, half of which came out of Maddie's backpack."
Now, if you are inclined to believe Meyers' shot at a fourth title is simply a product of being a good runner at a small school, keep this in mind: the last two years, she has posted the second-fastest time overall. Her 17:33.9 last season was a course record for about two hours, until Amy-Eloise Neale clocked a 17:31.8 to win the 3A title.
Meyers got a measure of revenge last spring, doubling as the 1,600- and 3,200-meter champ at the Pasco Invite, along the way topping fields that including Neale, North Central's Katie Knight and Shadle Park's Kendra Weitz.
One area in which Meyers is not in hurry is picking a college. Courted by many schools, she has visited Oregon and has plans for more trips after the season.
Should Meyers win today, her stand alone as the only four-time champ might be brief. Neale is the favorite to three-peat in the 3A, and she still has her senior season ahead of her.
With that in mind, will Meyers run against Neale today, trying to take back the course record?
"It would be pretty awesome to break that record, I'm not going to lie," she said. "But at the moment, since I've been racing the clock the last couple of years, it's a little less motivating. I think I'll run more for the feel, try not to worry about my splits. I want my last year to be a good time."
Good time as in fun, not stopwatch.
Three-time state champs
* Maddie Meyers, Northwest, 2008-10, 1A
* Laura Halverson, Freeman, 1998-2000, 1A
* Matt Davis, Mead, 1991-93, 4A
* Tim Briggs, Davenport, 1991-93, B
* Carissa Seward, Goldendale, 1986-88, A/B
* Robert Price, Carroll, 1983-85, A/B
* Patty Matava, Bellevue, 1980-82, 4A
-- Kevin Anthony: 509-582-1403; kanthony@tricityherald.com
Schedule and fees
Times: Opening ceremonies at 9:15 a.m., with the wheelchair race at 9:30.
The 1B/2B girls run at 10 a.m., with the 1A girls, 2A girls, 1B/2B boys, 1A boys, 3A girls, 4A girls, 2A boys, 3A boys and 4A boys running each half hour.
Tickets: $9 for adults/students without ASB, $7 ASB students and seniors, free for children 5 and under.
Parking: Available at Columbia Basin College.
