What is Dan Parker’s secret?
Now in his 23rd season as a high school cross country head coach, Parker consistently produces outstanding teams that contend for a state title. This year, Parker’s Glacier Peak High School girls cross country squad is one of the best the coach has ever had.
Going into Saturday’s 2010 high school state cross country championships in Pasco, Glacier Peak is the overwhelming favorite to win the Class 3A girls first-place team trophy. The Grizzlies are the 26th-best team in the nation, regardless of school size, according to ESPN RISE’s Oct. 29 rankings.
Asked what her highly successful coach brings to the table, Glacier Peak sophomore Amy-Eloise Neale — the defending 3A state individual champion — cited Parker’s ability to maintain a balance of hard work and fun.
“He keeps a good amount of discipline,” said Neale, “(but) he’s actually a pretty funny guy.”
Parker has mastered the art of getting athletes to believe they can achieve greatness and convincing them to do the incredible amount of preparation that is required to reach that level.
“Most kids will live up to your expectations” if the training plan is good and runners believe in what they are doing, Parker said. “Otherwise, forget about it.”
“If you set the expectations high and give them the means to do it, they’re going to achieve,” he added.
Glacier Peak, a third-year program, was among the state’s elite right out of the gate. In Year 1 (2008) the Grizzlies finished seventh in the state team standings despite not having seniors. Last year Glacier Peak was favored to win but finished second behind Shadle Park of Spokane.
Is this the year Glacier Peak wins it all? The ever-confident Parker thinks so. Kamiakin, ranked No. 3 in 3A, is the only foe that has a possibility to beat Glacier Peak “unless we have a complete meltdown,” Parker said. “Even then, I don’t think so. If everyone does their job and runs what they can, we should be fine.”
Defending 3A state team champion Shadle Park is ranked No. 2.
Before switching to Glacier Peak, Parker coached 20 years across the river at Snohomish High, where he guided the Panthers to four state team titles (1995, 1996, 2002 and 2003). The 2003 squad still holds the 4A state record for best team score (31 points). Incredibly, that team’s five fastest runners finished among the top 13 individuals.
The performance was the awe-inspiring pinnacle of the pack-running mentality Parker and his assistant coaches preach.
“We would love to (break) that” team point record on Saturday, said Glacier Peak senior Sarah Whybark, a four-time state qualifier, as is her teammate Brenna Condon.
“It’s something we’ve always had as a goal,” Whybark said, “and I feel like any chance Dan ever has again to get it, it’s this year.”
Rematch for Neale, Knight
Last year Glacier Peak’s Neale edged North Central’s Katie Knight by one second to win the 3A state individual title. Now sophomores, Neale and Knight — also track rivals — appear headed for another entertaining cross country duel. This past weekend, Neale tied the course record at South Whidbey High en route to winning the 3A District 1 title. Meanwhile, Knight placed first in the District 5-8 race.
1A boys: King favored
In his first year competing at the 1A level in cross country, Coupeville High senior Tyler King has a great chance to win an individual state title. After going against 4A runners the past three seasons as a member of Oak Harbor High’s squad because Coupeville did not have a cross country program, King was forced to go it alone when Oak Harbor ended its combined sports agreement with Coupeville before the current school year began.
A year ago at the state meet King placed fifth in the 4A race in a time of 15:33. Going into Saturday’s 1A state meet, King is ranked No. 1 with a season-best time of 15:24.81 on a 5-kilometer course, according to Athletic.net. Port Townsend High senior Bereket Piatt (15:53.04) is No. 2.
Wendy’s Heisman finalists
In addition to qualifying for the 3A and 4A state cross country championships, respectively, Oak Harbor High senior Adrianna Royal and Edmonds-Woodway High senior Amia Nash were recently named state finalists for the Wendy’s High School Heisman award. Winners will be announced on Friday.
2A girls: Cedarcrest goes 4-for-4
For the fourth straight year, the Cedarcrest High girls cross country team qualified for the 2A state meet. Two current Cedarcrest seniors — District 1 runnerup Cara Strodel and Jessica Beam (32nd place at district) — have been members of all four state squads, each coached by Bruce McDowell. Starting in 2007, the Red Wolves finished seventh, second and third in the 2A state team standings. This year, Cedarcrest is ranked No. 5.
Cedarcrest’s unranked boys team also qualified for Saturday’s state meet. It’s the first time in 21 years a boys cross country team from the Duvall/Carnation area advanced to state.
Notes
The King’s girls XC team, ranked No. 4 in 1A, seeks its fifth straight state team title. The Knights, coached by Rod Wilcox, are already tied for the state record for most consecutive team championships and they own the state record for most total state championships (seven). … The District 1-champion Stanwood girls XC team has a chance to win its third top-four trophy in a row. Ranked fifth in 4A, the Spartans finished third last year and fourth in 2008. Stanwood’s coach is Jordan Sneva and its No. 1 runner is Lipscomb University recruit Minna Fields, the 2009 4A individual runnerup. … The fastest runners in Saturday’s races will qualify for the Washington vs. Oregon Border Clash on Nov. 21 at Nike Headquarters in Beaverton, Ore. Check out Border Clash qualifying requirements at www.runnerspace.com/nikeborderclash.
Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at www.heraldnet.com/doubleteam and follow Cane on Twitter at MikeCaneHerald.
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