Moses Lake runners ready to turn it loose at state cross country meet in Pasco
MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake senior Zak Bishop stretched out wearing a T-shirt from the Idaho state cross country meet during Wednesday’s training as reminder.
Bishop transferred from Kellogg, Idaho, so Saturday’s Washington state cross country meet at the Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco will be his first and only state race in the Evergreen State.
The shirt reminds him why he put the miles in on hot summer days. Why it’s mind over matter when muscles ache and the spirit dips below the desire to push on. It doesn’t get any better than this for a high school cross country runner.
“It’s the last race of my high school career, so I plan to give it my all. Run as fast as I can, hopefully puke and pass out,” he said with a smile.
Bishop will be joined by Moses Lake teammates Zack Owens and Joshua Cooper in the Class 4A boys race. Chiefs freshman Carlie Gregg is the only Moses Lake runner to qualify for the 4A girls meet.
Racing against Columbia Basin Big Nine powerhouse Eisenhower has given them a chance compete against some of the best runners in the state. The Chiefs did exceeding well at the Nike Portland Invitational against some of the best runners in the Pacific Northwest. They’ve run against the best. They have run in elite races with massive numbers in the field. Now its time to put it on the line in the final race of the 2016 season.
“Going into Nike I really didn’t think we were going to do to well. Then we took third (in Division III) and that was amazing. It shows we can do the same at state,” said Bishop, who intends to get out fast and run the first mile in 5 minutes, 10 seconds to establish himself early in the race. “Eisenhower is tough, but they’re not unbeatable. I enjoy the challenge (of racing Eisenhower). I think that competition has made me a lot better. The goal on Saturday is to pass people and not get passed in that last mile.”
The field is expected to include close to 150 runners, so the game plan is to gain early separation with a fast start, then settle into racing pace before turning loose the dogs in the final mile one the 3.1-mile course on the rolling hills of Sun Willows Golf Course.
Owens will be competing in his first state meet. His goal is top 50 in the elite field.
“There was so many people at Nike that it gave me a feeling of what state might be like,” Owens said. “The key is to run my own race. Going out too fast has been a problem for me in the past, but I want to get out with the leaders. It’s all about pushing myself, feeling comfortable and finding someone I can run with.”
Cooper found his racing form midway through the season and gained confidence as the year went on. He believes Saturday’s race will be a mental test as well as a test in strength and stamina.
“Racing Eisenhower this year has made us mentally ready for anything,” he said. “You have to trust your training. I have two teammates that are going with me to state, so I’m not alone. I’ve got my mom and dad (Casey and Christina Cooper), who were both prominent athletes in high school. I feel good. When I step onto that starting line, I feel elated. It’s all about confidence.”
Gregg finished top 10 in every single race this season as a freshman. Her goal is top 50, although her potential is top 25.
“There’s going to be a lot of people that I’ve never seen before. I think I’ll want get out a little faster than normal because of all the runners. I want to set up my race in the first mile,” Gregg said. “By the mile and a half, I start thinking about passing people and maintain my position as I go in.”
State cross country schedule: Wheelchair, 9:30 a.m.; 1B/2B girls, 10 a.m.; 1A girls 10:30; 2A girls, 11 a.m.; 1B/2B boys, 11:30 a.m.; 1A boys, noon; 3A girls, 12:30 p.m.; 4A girls 1 p.m.; 2A boys, 1:30 p.m.; 3A boys, 2 p.m.; 4A boys, 2:30 p.m.