PREP TRACK: Distance runner wins Glacier Peak’s first district title

Published 11:07 pm Wednesday, May 20, 2009

EDMONDS — In future years, when Glacier Peak High School track and field lore is recounted, Jeff Bastian will always have his place.

The sophomore distance runner put himself in the record books when he won the 1,600 meters at the Class 3A District 1 meet Wednesday afternoon, becoming the first-year school’s first ever district titlest.

“It’s pretty cool,” Bastian said of his feat. “I trained hard this year, I really wanted it and I knew I had it. But I had to push that last lap.”

Bastian’s performance highlighted the first day of the meet, held at Edmonds District Stadium. Four finals were contested, with the top-two finishers in each event qualifying for state. The meet concludes Friday.

Bastian won a thrilling race that saw the lead change multiple times and the race come right down to the tape.

Shorecrest’s Joseph McConaughy led much of the way, but Bastian and teammate Chase Byrd surged to the front with 200 meters remaining. All three were within a step of one another in the final straight, with all three appearing to tighten up as the finish line approached. McConaughy passed Byrd, but Bastian was just able to hold McConaughy off, winning by 18 one-hundredths of a second. His winning time was 4 minutes, 24.08 seconds, more than 3 seconds faster than his qualifying time.

“Most of the race I sat behind Joe McConaughy or right to his side,” Bastian said. “I knew that last lap I had to push it, so I pushed the last lap and kicked with everything I had in the last 100 meters.

“I think we all felt it because I was dying and they were dying.”

Bastian didn’t remain the only district champ in Glacier Peak history for long. Later in the day junior Devon Kiser took the high jump title with a leap of 6 feet, 2 inches, matching his personal best.

Kiser also finished second in the long jump with a distace of 20-9, meaning he’s headed to state in two events.

“It was good, I feel pumped,” Kiser said of his day. “I was a foot and three inches off my long jump best, but I still got second place. I had to scratch one of my long jump attempts, save my energy for the high jump.”

In the day’s other finals, Shorecrest’s David Cannon won the shot put with a distance of 53-0, and fellow Scot Jordan Brown won the long jump at 21-10.

Shorecrest took an early lead in the team competition with 42 points, just two ahead of Glacier Peak.

At Edmonds Stadium

Team scores—Shorecrest 42, Glacier Peak 40, Mount Vernon 31, Ferndale 20, Everett 10, Sedro-Woolley 8.5, Meadowdale 4, Lynnwood 0.5.

State qualifiers (top two to state)

1,600—Bastian (Glacier Peak) 4:24.08, McConaughy (Shorecrest) 4:24.26. Long jump—Brown (Shorecrest) 21-10, Kiser (Glacier Peak) 20-9. High jump—Kiser (Glacier Peak) 6-2, Watson (Ferndale) 6-1. Shot put—Cannon (Shorecrest) 53-0, Packard (Mount Vernon) 48-5.5.