It has been a long haul for Kent-Meridian’s boys cross country team.
But finally, after an eight-year dry spell, it’s clear the Royals are no longer underdogs.
As much was evident on a windy and rainy Wednesday afternoon at French Field, when Kent-Meridian put the final touches on its South Puget Sound League North Division title with an 20-36 win over Auburn.
The win simply added another exclamation point to what already has been a remarkable run for the resurgent Royals. The win not only helped the Royals (5-0) seal the North title, but also was the school’s first team title of any kind since the fall of 2001, which also just happened to be the last time the K-M boys won a cross country crown.
“It’s pretty great that we’re finally being recognized as being something other than underdogs,” said Derrick Daigre, a state champion on the track last spring and who runs No. 2 for the Royals behind teammate DJ Jigre. “It’s really nice to finally have a league title … to break through the tradition.”
Since delivering a perfect fall season (8-0) in 2001, K-M has posted a 14-49 mark in SPSL dual meets. The number, however, is compounded further when considering that seven of those 14 wins came in 2002, when the Royals finished second to Auburn Riverside.
This fall there hasn’t been anybody better on the trail than the Royals. Though, they certainly endured their share of close calls along the way, beating both Tahoma (27-28) and KW (28-29) by a single point.
Both wins were pivotal, Kent-Meridian coach Ernie Ammons said.
“These boys have had goals and a countdown to state the entire time,” Ammons said. “They all have the same goal in mind. They practice together, travel together and do a lot of outside functions together. They believed they could do it.
“The win over Tahoma just set everything into motion.”
The Bears came into the season having won three of the last four league crowns, a mark that includes consecutive perfect seasons. After knocking off Tahoma on Sept. 16, Kent-Meridian proceeded to stop Kentridge on Sept. 23 (18-37) and Kentlake on Sept. 30 (15-47).
Yet, the most pivotal moment during K-M’s entire season so far, and a big reason for today’s crown, came on a 250-meter dash to the finish line in its narrow victory over Kentwood at Clark Lake Park.
Daigre entered the final 250-meter strip trailing Kentwood’s Danny Lunder and Kevin Massimino by a narrow margin. Realizing he needed to beat at least one of the two, Daigre shifted into overdrive to pass Lunder and finish just behind Massimino. Massimino took third (17:39) followed by Daigre (17:41) and Lunder (17:42). Jigre won the meet with a time of 17:17 followed by teammate Matt Bailey (17:27).
Daigre’s late kick, however, was the difference between winning the meet and the league crown.
“I was done,” said Daigre. “I was so done. The pain was so bad I didn’t want to run anymore.
“But I knew for the team I had to do it.”
Winning the title is something the Royals believed was achievable, Daigre added.
“In the summer, when all the guys came together, we thought we could do it,” he said. “Then we beat Tahoma and the momentum just carried on.”
Of course, plenty has gone right for the Royals along the way, including the addition of Bailey, a junior who turned out for the team for the first time this year. In a single season on the trails, Bailey has blossomed into a strong No. 3 runner for the Royals. Meanwhile, Jigre, the team’s No. 1 runner, has simply gotten better with every meet.
“A big factor for us was the maturity of DJ and getting Matt Bailey out was obviously huge,” Ammons said. “DJ has turned into a leader this season and has turned a corner.”
The Royals also have received strong performances from the rest of the lineup, a group that includes: Jordan Roberts, Nick Lemmon, Andrew Smith, Jesus Valdez, Edson Zaldivar and Dario Acevedo.
“We knew we could do it. It’s our time,” Daigre said.
Indeed it is as the wait is over.
THE TOP 10
Below is a look at the top 10 times posted by male and female runners in the SPSL North this season.
BOYS
NAME, SCHOOL TIME
1. Casey Campbell, Tahoma 15:41.0
2. Kevin Massimino, Kentwood 16:19
3. DJ Jigre, Kent-Meridian 16:31
4. Tim Pettit, Kentwood 16:37
5. Danny Lunder, Kentwood 16:37.73
6. James Dagley, Tahoma 16:45.8
7. Alex Horton, Kentridge 16:50.7
8. Will Richmond, Kentwood 16:54
9. Derrick Daigre, Kent-Meridian 16:56.28
10. Matt Bailey, Kent-Meridian 16:56.74
GIRLS
NAME, SCHOOL TIME
1. Elizabeth Oosterhout, Tahoma 18:47.5
2. Julianna Mock, Tahoma 18:47.9
3. Lauren Clawson, Tahoma 19:02.3
4. Hannah Mittelstaedt, Tahoma 19:18.3
5. Alexia Martin, Kent-Meridian 19:20.98
6. Kailey Ulland, Kentwood 19:34
7. Allie Wilson, Tahoma 19:59.1
8. Blair Slater, Tahoma 20:10.9
9. Anna deCarteret, Auburn 20:22
10. Sarah Robbins, Kentlake 20:27.90
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