LAKEWOOD – Jeff Helmer attacked the finish line with a ferocity that screamed, “I’m healthy! Behold my power!”
Elizabeth Armstrong / The Herald
A year ago, Helmer, now a senior at Jackson High School, struggled with a painful hip injury and was less than his best. But on Saturday in the Western Conference South Division cross country championship race at Lakewood High, Helmer reminded everyone why he is one of the most highly sought runners in the country, and that he’ll be one to watch next week at districts and two weekends from now at state.
Helmer pointed a finger skyward as he finished the 3.1-mile course in 15 minutes, 41 seconds – a meet record and a jaw-dropping 61 seconds faster than his time last year.
After the race, Helmer said one word exploded inside his mind at the finish line: relief. “I’ve had so many injuries the last few years,” said Helmer, who is considering scholarship offers from several Division-I schools, including his top three: Arizona State, Oklahoma State and Oregon.
Helmer prays before most races and said he credits God with helping him regain his health. The rejuvenated senior looked remarkably strong Saturday, turning a close race into a 13-second victory over Mariner junior Dak Riek (15:54).
Riek stayed with Helmer for 2 miles, but Helmer poured it on over the final 1,600 meters.
Early in the race, Helmer and Riek trailed Jordan Foster of Kamiak, who finished third (16:21). “I wanted to sit back a little bit,” Helmer said, “and see how the race was going to unfold.” Known for his late kicks, Helmer picked his spot and zoomed to victory.
After winning, Helmer stayed in the finish area and shouted encouragement to his Jackson teammates. “Being a leader and a captain – I’ve grown really close to these guys,” Helmer said. “As a team … we knew we had to put it together today. I’m really proud of them.”
Jackson tallied 113 points to take fourth, finishing behind meet champion Edmonds-Woodway (76), Mountlake Terrace (88) and Kamiak (93) (The low score wins in cross country).
Here’s a look at Saturday’s other boys races at Lakewood High:
Wesco North
In his first league championship race, Lake Stevens sophomore Joey Bywater looked right at home – quite a feat, considering he had never run cross country until this season.
Bywater shrugged off inexperience to win in a Wesco North meet-record time of 16:13, edging his Vikings teammate, fellow sophomore Kyle Van Santen, by 5 seconds.
Bywater’s favorite sport used to be basketball, but last year he discovered his distance-running talent when he clocked the fastest mile time in gym class. These days, basketball takes a back seat to running.
“It’s really tough,” Bywater said of cross country. “I have a lot more respect for (runners) now.”
Lake Stevens (64 points) grabbed second place behind Snohomish, which claimed the team title with 41 points. Five Panthers finished in the top 10, led by Andrew Glebe (sixth, 16:51).
Cascade Conference
It was the end of an era for Lakewood’s Tyler Rapp and South Whidbey’s J.D. Peters. The two battled one another on various courses ever since they were freshmen, but Saturday the seniors faced off in their final prep clash.
“We’ve grown up together,” said Rapp, who won the Cascade Conference race in 16:26, 12 seconds ahead of Peters.
Both runners will compete in district races next week, but Rapp will run in the Class 2A race and Peters is headed for 3A.
Rapp, who placed fifth at state last year, and junior Scott Skiles (third, 17:10) spearheaded Lakewood’s team-championship performance. The Cougars scored 32 points to top South Whidbey (53).
Rapp, who charged past Peters with about 400 meters to go, said he’ll shoot for a top-3 finish at state on Nov. 5 in Pasco. Rapp, who was fifth last year, will also do his best to guide the Cougars to its first team state championship since 1989.
At Lakewood High School
3.1 miles
Wesco North
Team scores-1. Snohomish 41, 2. Lake Stevens 64, 3. Oak Harbor 68, 4. Cascade 102, 5. Stanwood 135, 6. Marysville-Pilchuck 147, 7. Monroe 181, 8. Mount Vernon 231, 9. Arlington 233.
Individuals (Top five for top three teams, plus other top-15 runners): Snohomish-6. Glebe 16:51, 7. Pedack 16:56, 8. Goodman 16:59, 9. Baus 17:00, 11. Mason 17:15; Lake Stevens-1. Bywater 16:13, 2. Van Santen 16:18, 15. Cheslik 17:25, 20. Smith 17:29, 27. Fountain 17:42; Oak Harbor-3. King 16:38, 10. Marriot 17:09, 12. Vasquez 17:19, 14. Dix 17:24, 30. Green 17:48. Others-4. Cary (Mount Vernon) 16:42, 5. Redding (Cascade) 16:51, 13. Roberts (Stanwood) 17:20.
Wesco South
Team scores-1.Edmonds-Woodway 76, 2. Mountlake Terrace 88, 3. Kamiak 93, 4. Jackson 113, 5. Shorecrest 122, 6. Mariner 123, 7. Everett 129, 8. Shorewood 187, 9. Meadowdale 202, 10. Lynnwood 316.
Individuals (Top five for top three teams, plus other top-15 runners): E-W-6. Yilma 16:36, 7. Van Swearingen 16:38, 14. Wolfe 17:09, 18. Grover 17:16, 31. Hait-Campbell 17:36; M. Terrace-5. Henning 16:30, 13. Hill 17:08, 19. Tran 17:18, Beeninga 17:22, 29. Yarborough 17:35; Kamiak-3. Foster 16:21, 8. Cooper 16:44, 21. Kuselik 17:22, 28. Morton 17:32, Holzer 17:38. Others-1. Helmer (Jackson) 15:41, 2. Riek (Mariner) 15:54, 4. Kratz (Meadowdale) 16:27, 9. Ardissono (Shorewood) 16:46, 10. Stanovsky (Everett) 16:52, 11. Zarate (Mariner) 16:52, 12. Kaftanski (Everett) 17:05, 15. Bartol (Mariner) 17:09.
Cascade Conference
Team scores-1. Lakewood 32, 2. South Whidbey 53, 3. King’s 80, 4. Cedarcrest 84, 5. Archbishop Murphy 116, 6. Granite Falls 151, 7. Sultan 194.
Individuals (Top five for top three teams, plus other top-15 runners): Lakewood-1. Rapp 16:26, 3. Skiles 17:10, 4. Devier 17:17, 11. Ervin 17:56, 13. Mattson 18:04; S. Whidbey-2. Peters 16:38, 8. Fitz 17:41, 12. Depender 17:59, 14. Warwick 18:07, 17. Rovang 18:42; King’s-6. E. Dull 17:35, J. Dull 17:36, 21. Mcmaham 18:58, 22. Dean 18:59, 25. Talbot 19:08. Others: 5. Chappell (Cedarcrest) 17:20, 9. Heller (Cedarcrest) 17:44, 10. J. Ryan (Archbishop Murphy) 17:45, 15. K. Ryan (Archbishop Murphy) 18:12.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
