Edmonds-Woodway dominates meet meet

Published 11:20 am Monday, March 3, 2008

LYNNWOOD — Edmonds-Woodway’s Yonatan Yilma and Jordan Huegli both wanted to make a statement at last week’s Edmonds District cross country championships.

Yilma was aiming to set a course record, while Huegli wanted to start building toward the postseason.

The two Warriors achieved their goals and in the process helped lead Edmonds-Woodway to a pair of team championships Oct. 12 at Lynndale Park.

Yilma blazed through the 2.75-mile course in 14 minutes, 44 seconds, well ahead of teammate Ben Hait-Campbell, who finished 26 seconds later. Yilma spent most of his time well ahead of the pack but was able to track his progress throughout the race.

“I tried to go for the course record,” Yilma said. “I had people all over timing me.”

To set a new record while running without any competition near him shows the determination Yilma possesses, said Edmonds-Woodway head coach Regina Joyce.

“He’s a man on a mission,” she said. “When he makes up his mind that he wants to do something, he goes out and does it.”

Yilma’s confidence continues to grow in what is only his second season of running cross country.

“He’s very clear about what his goals are and I don’t think he goes into a race with any other thought than ‘I want to win it,’” Joyce said. “He respects his opposition. I don’t think he’s intimidated by them.”

Hait-Campbell’s performance was one of his best of the season, Joyce added.

“Ben realized what he’s capable of,” she said. “I knew it was in there.”

Huegli prepared for Thursday’s race by having a massage a day earlier and came into the race feeling totally relaxed. The junior standout’s season has been somewhat mixed.

“It’s been all mental for me,” Huegli said. “I just made up my mind that: ‘This is a big race for you. You’ve got to prove yourself here.’”

Huegli took first place in a three-way meet on Oct. 5 and then followed up with a strong run at the Nike/Jim Danner Invitational on Oct. 7.

With the postseason fast approaching, Huegli told herself that if she wanted to advance to state, she had to step it up.

“You’ve got to start here (at the Edmonds District meet),” Huegli said. “This is when the big races start coming up.”

The fast start to the race surprised Huegli, but she eventually took the lead at about the mile-mark and finished in 18:39, nine seconds ahead of Meadowdale’s Eryn Jones. It was the first time Huegli competed in the Edmonds District meet. She was sick her freshman season and then injured as a sophomore.

“I never realized how good competition was in the Edmonds School District,” Huegli said. “I’m happy the other girl took the lead because it made me realize that you’ve got to get yourself up there.”

Jones was satisfied with her second-place finish, considering she was running with a taped left ankle as a result of a training injury.

“I hurt it running at practice. I twisted it on a root,” said Jones, who didn’t practice the week prior. “I’m glad to be running again.”

The tape restricted Jones’ range of motion, but she was able to deal with it.

“It’s getting better. Hopefully it’ll be healed more,” Jones said.

“She ran about what she ran last year, which is good for us,” Meadowdale coach Kris Maraveller said. “She pulled along all the other people.”

Lynnwood senior Taneal Detschman led the race for the first mile before being overtaken by Huegli. She finished third overall (19:01), the best finish of her high school career.

“I felt really good,” Detschman said. “I had more drive because it’s my last time here. I just wanted to basically lead the pack and stay ahead as long as I could.”

Detschman, who placed fourth in her last two meets, is looking to build toward the postseason with her teammates.

“Our girls team is doing really good,” Detschman said. “We have a strong pack of four that’s always been pushing me.”

Edmonds-Woodway’s Mary Lee and Meadowdale’s Caroline Kratz rounded out the top five. The Warriors won the girls team title, scoring 31 points to the Mavericks’ 46. Mountlake Terrace was third (67) and Lynnwood was fourth (75).

Edmonds-Woodway’s Madison Wrest took sixth and teammate Juliet Brewster finished eighth.

In the boys race, Mountlake Terrace’s Tyler Hill took third and was followed by teammate Michael Tran and Edmonds-Woodway’s Justin Wolfe.

The Warriors edged the Hawks 25-30 to claim the boys crown. Meadowdale was third (74).

“It was a great team effort for the boys and girls,” Joyce said. “It was very exciting for me to watch.”