Meadowdale’s Grant returns from injury with high hopes for state

LYNNWOOD — In his senior year at Meadowdale High School, hurdler Christapherson Grant was looking for a track and field season with no frustrations, no disappointments and no bad breaks.

He got all of those on one fateful afternoon — and that last one literally.

At the Larry Eason Invitational in Snohomish on April 18, Grant was running in the 300-meter intermediate hurdle final. He was in second place as he reached the home stretch, trailing Aiden Basco of Mount Rainier High School by a few strides but also gaining ground.

And then disaster.

In his bid to overtake Basco, Grant went to a desperate sprint, which caused him to lose his even stride. He ended up too close to the next-to-last hurdle as he started to leap and his foot caught the underside of the top board, which sent him sprawling.

He tried to break his fall by extending his right hand, but what broke instead was his collarbone as he tumbled to the track. And it was no mere hairline crack either. The bone had snapped, leaving two pieces with jagged ends barely touching.

The next day a doctor told Grant he would be out 6-8 weeks, meaning he would miss the rest of the season, including the upcoming state championships. And at that point, Grant said ruefully, “it was like, ‘Good-bye dreams.’”

But with the same determination that has helped him become one of the state’s top track athletes, Grant vowed to return. He avoided pain pills after being told they would slow his healing. And despite having his right arm in a restrictive sling, he tried to stay in shape by regularly riding a stationary bicycle.

On May 13, less than a month after his injury, he got a reluctant OK from his doctor to resume running. That same night he ran in Western Conference 3A South qualifying races in both the 110 high hurdles and 300 intermediate hurdles, and two nights later he won league championships in both races.

Last Friday night Grant qualified for state by winning district titles in the same two races. His intermediate hurdles time of 38.40 at the district meet is the state’s top 3A mark this season, while his time of 14.06 in the high hurdles from a dual meet in March is the state’s top time for all classes.

Grant’s accomplishments this season are remarkable, not only because of his injury, but also because of where he started three years ago. As a freshman he finished well back in varsity races. He progressed enough to qualify for state in the high hurdles as a sophomore and junior, but failed both times to qualify for finals.

Particularly in his junior season, Grant had much higher hopes for the state meet. “But I choked so bad and it was really disappointing,” he said.

So last summer Grant began a rigorous training regimen, both in the weight room and on the track.

“I didn’t want my senior year to be a bust,” he explained. “I didn’t want to be saying, ‘Oh, I should done (more work) during the summer.’ I wanted to give as much effort as I could. And I was really hard on myself because I realized the day you take off (someone else) is going to get faster. So no matter how sore I was that day, I pushed through it.

“If you want to get anything, you have to get it yourself. It takes a lot of discipline and you really have to stay committed to it.”

Phil Hodges, a Meadowdale assistant coach who works with hurdlers, said Grant’s “offseason training has made a big difference. He’s just become a stronger athlete. The kid loves track, that’s the bottom line. It’s given him a sense of purpose that he didn’t really have his freshman year … He’s a very competitive kid, and he’s improved so much.”

Grant has several goals for the next few months. He expects to run in elite age-groups meets around the country, and from those he hopes to be named a high school All-American. Also, he is being recruited by various colleges with Washington, Washington State and Michigan among his primary suitors, and he plans to make that decision soon.

But in the meantime there is this week’s state meet at Tacoma’s Mount Tahoma High School. Grant would love to surpass the high hurdles state-meet record of 13.86 set by Celtic Bowie of Seattle’s Rainier Beach High School in 1987.

“I want to beat that record so bad,” Grant admitted with a smile. “But with my collarbone issue, I just hope to do the best I possibly can at state and make my dreams come true by finishing both events as a state champion.

“I want to leave a mark at this school,” he added. “And how you finish at the end is really going to impact how people see you. I want to be one of those stories where people can see that anything’s possible if you just work at it.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

X
Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for March 8-17

The Athlete of the Week nominees for March 8-17. Voting closes at… Continue reading

X
Silvertips’ playoff picture coming together as season hits final week

Everett is officially the Western Conference’s No. 3 seed and is likely heading into a matchup with Kelowna or Vancouver.

X
Prep roundup for Monday, March 18

Prep roundup for Monday, March 18: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Los Angeles Rams offensive guard Tremayne Anchrum (72) against the Denver Broncos during the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Seahawks add to position of need, sign guard Tremayne Anchrum Jr.

The 25-year-old has played in 31 games, starting once, since being drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in 2020.

Everett Community College head coach Chet Hovde watches as the women's team practices on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 in Everett, Wa. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
EvCC coach Chet Hovde, who ‘lived for’ basketball, dies at 77

Coach Hovde graduated from Everett High School in 1965. He spent 33 years as the women’s basketball coach at the community college.

Jackson’s Ian Friedrichsen celebrates his goal with his teammates during the game against Bothell on Thursday, May 11, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep boys soccer: 5 things to watch for the 2024 season in Snohomish County

A look at the top local storylines for this high school boys soccer season

Jackson’s Rachel Sysum is hugged by Leneyah Mitchell after hitting a home run during the game against Bothell on Friday, May 19, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep softball: 5 things to watch for the 2024 season in Snohomish County

A look at the top local storylines to keep an eye on this high school softball season.

X
Prep roundup for Friday, March 15

Prep roundup for Friday, March 15: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Glacier Peak’s Samantha Christensen runs to home plate to celebrate her home run with her teammates during the game against Snohomish on Friday, March 15, 2024 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
GALLERY: Glacier Peak softball tops rival Snohomish

The Grizzlies prevail 9-5 in a clash of area powers.

X
Prep roundup for Thursday, March 14

Prep roundup for Thursday, March 14: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

The Washington Wolfpack logo is revealed during the Everett AFL team unveiling at Tony V's Garage in Everett, Washington onThursday, Oct. 26, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Everett’s new arena football team to have 4 televised games

The NFL Network will broadcast 30 AFL games this season, including two Wolfpack home games.

Washington coach Mike Hopkins yells to the team during the second half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against California, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Seattle. California won 82-80. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Looking back at Mike Hopkins’ turbulent tenure as UW men’s basketball coach

The departing Huskies coach had highs early, but the good times didn’t last long.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.