The time is now for the Kent-Meridian High boys cross country team.
Talent and depth is in abundance for the Royals this fall on the trail. Now, K-M hopes to put it all together and, in the process, catch Tahoma, something no South Puget Sound League North Division team has done since 2006.
“If we’re ever going to have a team that has an opportunity (to reel in the Bears) this is the time and this is the team,” coach Ernie Ammons said.
Suffice to say that every team in the North is chasing Tahoma. And that’s much easier spoken than accomplished. When it comes to talent and depth, there hasn’t been a team in the Kent Valley as loaded as Tahoma in years.
How good have the Bear boys been?
They have won the last two North Division crowns and three of the last four. In addition, Tahoma entered the fall season having posted an almost unbeatable North Division dual mark of 30-1 since 2005.
Ammons is well versed on the trail history at the Maple Valley school. And when discussing the possibility of challenging Tahoma for league supremacy this fall, he knows it’s daunting.
“Tahoma always seems to reload,” he said. “They have 100 boys every year. You just don’t know what you have until you face them.”
But the Royals have plenty of runners, too, as 55 – about 10 more than usual – turned out for the team this fall.
Two of those runners are state veterans D.J. Jigre and Derrick Daigre, who will be among the SPSL North’s elite this fall. Last year, Jigre was 52nd at state , posting a solid time of 16:44 on the 3.1-mile course in Pasco. Daigre, who won the state title in the 800-meter dash on the track this past spring, wasn’t far behind Jigre, clocking in with a time of 16:45 for 53rd place.
“It seems like D.J. just kind of floats when he runs, it’s so effortless. With the fitness level he has now, low 16s or high 15s is a possibility,” Ammons said. “He could be top 20 at state.”
Though the sleek and svelte Daigre is conditioned more for the track season, he has proven to be more than an able No. 2 in the K-M stables.
“Derrick is more tall and gangly,” Ammons said. “But he’s got that fire to compete and that versatility.”
The key to the entire season for the Royals, however, will come from the remainder of their varsity roster, a group that is long on talent and determination. Filling those slots, among others, will be district veterans Jesus Valdez, a state competitor in wrestling, and Jordan Roberts, along with seniors Andrew Smith and Nick Lemmon.
But that’s not all.
To Ammons’ surprise, junior Matt Bailey, a state-veteran swimmer, also came out for the team this fall.
“He’s a scorer for us,” a pleased Ammons said of Bailey. “It totally helps us. That’s what we needed.”
Even if Tahoma manages to stay out front, one thing remains clear: This is the most talented group of runners K-M has had since 2002, when the Royals took second in the North. And it’s not all about catching Tahoma, but rather moving on to state.
“If we’re going to do anything as a team, this is probably one of our best chances,” Ammons said of getting to Pasco. “We’ve been talking and their goal is state. They want to take a team to state.
“We’re going to give it everything we’ve got.”
Indeed, the time is now for the Royals.
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