PASCO – Kelly Spady lost his lead, but he picked the perfect time to reclaim it.
After leading most of the Class 4A boys state cross country championship race Saturday, the Kamiak High School senior fell behind Eisenhower’s Robbie Barany.
“I thought it was over,” Spady said. “I just wanted to try to hang on to him but he kept pulling away.”
Spady stayed within striking distance. He made up ground on the last hill, and as the two runners neared the final 500 meters and descended toward the finish line Spady poured it on.
“I thought ‘If I’m going to have any chance I’ve got to kick now.’”
Spady’s late attack was barely enough to overtake Barany before the finish line. Both runners completed the 3.1-mile route at Sun Willows Golf Course in 15 minutes, 24 seconds, but Spady won by at least a full stride. Spady, who finished 10th last year, wasn’t sure if it was the best final kick he’s ever had, but he said it was definitely the most rewarding.
For Barany, it was crushing. The crowd roared as Spady closed in, but Barany’s determined gaze didn’t falter until the Kamiak star finally surged ahead. His eyes bugging, Barany’s facial expression was a combination of shock and horror.
Meanwhile, Spady raised both arms and uncorked a victory yell. He became the first state boys cross country champion in Kamiak history. The previous school record was Ian McKissick’s fourth-place finish in 1998.
Spady’s finish left the awe-struck crowd uttering words like “incredible” and “unbelievable”.
“A lot of people had him written off at the 2-mile mark out there when Barany went by him,” Kamiak coach Charley LeWarne said. “He hung, and to attack up on the hill is very much in his nature. He’s not a kid that gives up.”
“He found another gear that I haven’t seen,” LeWarne said. “You don’t (normally) have a chance to see that. Special circumstances pull (that) out of a kid.”
Spady plans to run in college. He said he has considered the University of Washington, but the Huskies will likely be competing with a flurry of new suitors after what Spady did Saturday.
Edmonds-Woodway senior Derry Betts placed sixth (15:41), besting his 24th-place 2003 finish. Betts said he was in the zone from the start. “It was probably the best race I’ve ever run. I just ran out of my mind,” said Betts, who had received interest from Washington State and Oregon.
Ferris won the team title with 46 points, followed by Mead (92) and Eisenhower (104). Snohomish was sixth with 200 points. Senior Bobby Carlson (31st, 16:10) led the Panthers. Jackson High was ninth (230), thanks in part to junior Jeff Helmer (10th, 15:49). Junior Andrew Henning’s 56th-place finish (16:24) paced Mountlake Terrace (330), which was 15th.
Other top local individuals included junior Garrett Smith of Lake Stevens (21st, 15:57), Bothell senior Ryan Dorsey (25th, 16:01), and Cascade junior Ben Jones (28th, 16:06).
3A boys: Lindbergh’s Sam Ahlbeck (15:45) edged Max O’Donoghue-McDonald of Seattle Prep (15:45). Bishop Blanchet (79) topped North Central (85) for the team title.
1A boys: Alex Crabill (16:09) won by 26 seconds to lead Charles Wright to a decisive championship. Charles Wright, which won the A/B title last year, had three of the top five runners.
B boys: Gabe Molinaro of Northwest Christian (Lacey) won in 17:03. Reardan (46) held off Northwest Christian (57) for the team championship.
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