LANGLEY – Just a few months ago Kelly Spady endured major pain.
Both of his knees ached – patella tendonitis, he called it – and that’s bad news when you’re a runner.
It’s safe to say Spady has made a full recovery judging by how shockingly fast he ran Saturday at South Whidbey High School. Spady, a Kamiak High senior, blazed to a 12-second victory in the Class 4A boys race at the District 1 cross country championships.
Spady pulled away from second-place finisher Derry Betts of Edmonds-Woodway during an ascent about 1.5 miles into the 3.1-mile race, finishing in 15 minutes, 42 seconds. Spady and Betts (15:54) set a blistering pace but the Kamiak star’s knees held up just fine. “It was hard, just all out, as fast as I could go,” Spady said.
Spady, who finished 10th in the state last year, wants one more victory this season. “I want to win,” Spady said of next Saturday’s state meet in Pasco.
Betts, 24th at state last year, was psyched to break 16 minutes. “I think I’m peaking just right (for) state, right when I need to.”
Mountlake Terrace (92 points) topped Jackson (94) and Snohomish (105) in a tight contest for the team championship. All three squads move on to state. Andrew Henning (seventh, 16:29) paced Terrace, Jeff Helmer (fourth, 16:20) propelled Jackson, and Cale McCulloch (fifth, 16:24) boosted Snohomish. Jordan Foster, Spady’s Kamiak teammate, was third in 16:14 and Everett’s Matt Kaftanski (16:26) was sixth.
Junior Tyler Rapp won in 16:46 as Lakewood zoomed to the 2A championship. Rapp said he built his lead during the precise trail portions of the course to win by eight seconds.
Scott Skiles (fifth, 17:19) and Nathan Zahn (sixth, 17:20) helped the Cougars (41) finish ahead of King’s (67). “We all did great,” Rapp said. “We pulled through.” In particular, Rapp praised Zahn, who battled sickness and still finished well.
Alex Croutworst (fourth, 17:05) and Brent Woodham (seventh, 17:32) led King’s.
Rapp can’t wait for next weekend, when he believes Lakewood can finish in the top three and he can place among the top five individuals. Said Rapp of competing at Sun Willows Golf Course, the site of the state meet, “It’s a perfect golf course for running.”
Spoken like a true runner.
Sehome (23) and Burlington-Edison (63) snagged the 3A team berths. South Whidbey junior JD Peters finished eighth in the 3A race, completing the course in 16:56 to advance to state for the third straight year, though this will be his first time at the 3A level.
Peters said he started well Saturday but something went wrong halfway through the race. Suddenly, his abs and chest tightened up. “I’ve never felt anything like it before.” He said the mysterious affliction made it his toughest race of the year, but the struggle was worthwhile.
“I’m going to state,” he said, smiling. “That’s all I care about.”
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