PREP TRACK: Everett’s Olsen cruises to victory in 3,200

Published 11:08 pm Wednesday, May 20, 2009

EDMONDS — Suzy Olsen made it look easy.

The Everett High School senior led tape to tape in winning the 3,200 meters at the Class 3A District 1 meet Wednesday at Edmonds District Stadium, and she did so without seeming to break a sweat.

Not bad for someone who isn’t even particularly fond of the event.

Olsen’s preference is for the 1,600, but she was thrilled to earn a title in the longer 3,200 Wednesday.

“I like the mile better just because it’s shorter,” Olsen said. “It’s half the distance, so I feel like I have more energy at the end.

“But it felt really good, actually,” Olsen added about winning the 3,200. “I’ve never led a race start to finish at district before, so that was exciting.”

The 1,600, not the 3,200, is Olsen’s forte. Not only does she prefer the shorter distance, she’s also more proficient at it. Going into district Olsen was ranked No. 1 in the state in the 1,600, which will be contested during Friday’s final day of the meet. She was ranked just sixth in the state in the 3,200.

But one would be hard pressed to categorize Olsen as an inferior 3,200 runner based on Wednesday’s race. Olsen sprinted out to the lead right from the opening gun. For six laps she had Glacier Peak sophomores Brenna Condon and Sarah Whyback right on her shoulder. But with two laps remaining Olsen began to distance herself, even though there was no noticable change in her lengthy stride, and she ended up pulling away. She won in a time of 11 minutes, 27.56 seconds, two seconds ahead of Whybark, who finished second to earn the district’s other berth to state.

It was also far more pleasing experience for Olsen than last year’s district meet.

“Last year at this time I was anemic and I have bad memories of feeling really sick and dizzy, like I was going to throw up,” Olson said. “But I feel good after this one, which is exciting.”

In the team competition, Shorecrest took a commanding lead thanks to its dominance in the field events. The Scots had a state qualifier in all four events contested and won two of those, finishing the first day with 52 points. That was well ahead of second-place Everett, which tallied 34.

Shorecrest’s two champions were senior Erin Springer and freshman Nicole Harris. Springer won the long jump with a leap of 16 feet, 11 inches. Harris won the pole vault with a height of 10-0.

The Scots also had two second-place finishers. Senior Caroline Towles took second on the javelin with a throw of 114-0. Freshman India Matheson finished second in the discus at 98-11.

One other Wesco South athlete qualified for state as Lynnwood sophomore Danielle Alexander took second in the long jump at 16-6.75.

At Edmonds District Stadium

Team scores—Shorecrest 52, Everett 34, Glacier Peak 29, Mount Vernon 28, Ferndale 22, Lynnwood 14, Sedro-Woolley 8, Meadowdale 8.

State qualifiers (top two to state)

3,200—Olsen (Everett) 11:27.56, Whyback (Glacier Peak) 11:29.55. Long jump—Springer (Shorecrest) 16-11, Alexander (Lynnwood) 16-6 3/4. Discus—McNett (Mount Vernon) 106-4, Matheson (Shorecrest) 98-11. Javelin—Harbine (Ferndale) 121-0, Towles (Shorecrest) 114-0. Pole vault—Harris (Shorecrest) 10-0, Dingel (Ferndale) 9-6.