Not a moment too soon, Melody Miles is starting to show flashes of her old form.
Exactly two years after her last individual win, the King’s senior finished ahead of the field by a comfortable margin at the Northwest District 2A cross country championships Oct. 30 at South Whidbey High School.
The extended gap between victories has been filled with constant discomfort, doctor visits and periods of inactivity caused by a nagging back injury.
Miles followed up her 2002 district title with a fifth-place showing at state. That spring she sat out the entire track season and as a junior Miles slipped to 17th at the district cross country meet.
“Melody had a big sophomore year, but she’s struggled ever since,” King’s coach Rod Wilcox said. “It’s nice to see her finally getting healthy again.”
With 800 meters to go at last weekend’s district meet Miles was running shoulder-to-shoulder with Blaine’s Dominique Walter and Nooksack Valley’s Madison DeBruin. Miles eventually surged ahead for a winning time of 20 minutes, six seconds on the 3.1-mile course, 11 seconds ahead of DeBruin.
“They each took turns making moves and counter moves. Melody had one extra move and the others didn’t,” Wilcox said. “Going out and running a smart race like that and putting up a quality time is going to be big for her confidence.”
The King’s girls locked up a fourth straight team title by packing five girls in the top 15 for a score of 33 points. Mount Baker (86) was second and Lynden Christian (105) and Granite Falls (116) secured the remaining berths to this weekend’s state meet in Pasco.
Laura Coghlan led most of the first two miles and held on for fourth place in 20:25, two spots ahead of Heidi Peterson (20:31). Lauren Thompson (20:52) took ninth and Heidi Kieling (21:18) was 13th.
The Knights won Class 1A state titles the past three years and have been ranked second in the 2A state coaches poll all season behind East Valley (Yakima).
“We match up with them pretty even,” Wilcox said. “They’re still the favorite, but we’re not that far off. It’s going to come down to whichever team has a better day.
“The difference will probably be whether one runner on each team has a good or bad day. That should be enough.”
KING’S BOYS SECOND: The fourth-ranked King’s boys needed help from their fourth and fifth runners to hold off Meridian for second place behind top-ranked Lakewood.
Alex Croutworst took fourth in 17:05, Brent Woodham was seventh in 17:32 and the next four Knights finished in close succession.
Jeff Dull (17:57) was 17th, Evan Dull was 19th (18:00), Brian Pflugrath was 20th (18:03) and Brian Kotjan was 22nd (18:10).
“Our fifth and sixth runners have gone back and forth all year,” Wilcox said. “If one’s off, the other steps up. They push each other. It’s nice having the two of them instead of just having one to rely on.”
Meridian placed three runners in the top 10, but its bottom two finished 25th and 29th.
Lakewood junior Tyler Rapp took first in 16:46 and was joined by three teammates in the top 11 for a team total of 41 points. King’s (67), Meridian (73) and Mount Baker (137) earned the final three state berths.
The Knights finished second at last year’s 1A meet, ending a streak of four consecutive titles. Wilcox considers King’s one of several teams that will be vying for podium space in Pasco.
“After Lakewood, the next four or five spots are going to be a toss-up,” he said.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
