CROSS COUNTRY: Kentwood’s Ulland ready to challenge state’s elite; runners to watch

She grew up in a soccer household.

But when push came to shove two years ago, Kailey Ulland chose cross country.

“It’s kind of a joke with my family that I chose cross country instead of soccer because we’re a soccer family,” laughed Ulland, a Kentwood senior.

Rest assured, however, Ulland’s performance on the local and state trails have been no laughing matter. In fact, the Kentwood senior’s rapid ascension in the sport has grown by leaps and bounds since bypassing the pitch for the trails.

As the cross country season continues to unfold, Ulland once again has risen to the top of the South Puget Sound League North Division pack, joining friendly rivals Alexia Martin of Kent-Meridian along with Tahoma’s Julianna Mock and Elizabeth Oosterhout. All four finished among the top 21 at state last year, though Ulland – the same girl who gave up soccer for cross country – delivered the finest performance of all, snagging eighth place at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco after crossing the finish line in 18 minutes, 52 seconds.

Ulland didn’t just break her previous personal best. She shattered it by 18 seconds.

“That was like the greatest thing ever,” she said. “The whole next week I was exceptionally happy. Everything was perfect that day (at state).”

It was an almost perfect end to a season in which Ulland improved every step of the way. During sub-district and district competition, the Kentwood standout had been edged by Kent-Meridian’s Martin. This time, it was Ulland’s turn as she edged Martin, who finished in ninth place and just two seconds back at 18:54.

And while Ulland shattered her previous best, it’s worth noting that a year earlier – in her first season in the sport – she took 49th at state with a time of 19:47.

“I had a lot of fun that year and it helped me do better (as a junior),” Ulland said. “I knew what to look for.”

Which is just another part of Ulland’s cross-country tool kid that makes her a considerable threat to win it all this fall. Garfield’s Anna Dailey took home top honors last year, breaking the tape in 17:58. However, Dailey graduated as did Redmond’s Devin McMahon (3rd/1823) and Stanwood’s Natasha Verma (7th/18:51). The rest of the top 10 are seniors this year, except for juniors Martin and Lewis & Clark’s Alison Keenan. While Stanwood’s Minna Fields (2nd/18:17) entered the season as the favorite, Ulland’s rapid rise in the sport suggests she’s certainly one to watch.

“I’ve thought about (winning state),” Ulland concedes. “It would be really cool. Right now, I just want to beat what I did last year.”

To do that, Ulland has put in the time – and the miles – since school got out last spring. Outside of taking the occasional day off during summer, Ulland’s schedule included a variety of 3 and 5-mile runs, sometimes both in the same day. In addition, she joined the Federal Way Track Club and she stopped playing club soccer.

Giving up soccer, both during club season and for the high school team, has had its ups and downs, Ulland admits.

“I went to all (Kentwood’s) games last year,” said Ulland, a midfielder. “It wasn’t hard at first, and I really liked cheering for my friends. But when it got to the playoffs (last year), especially in the state semifinals, I wanted to be out there.

“But I don’t regret not playing.”

The only regret would have been to not give cross country a try in the first place.

“I love it,” she said. “I love the start, when you have 200 people and the gun goes off. It’s like a stampede.”

A stampede that’s more often than not led by Ulland. And that’s no joke.

RUNNERS TO WATCH

Alexia Martin, Kent-Meridian; Kailey Ulland, Kentwood; Julianna Mock, Tahoma; Elizabeth Oosterhout, Tahoma; Molly Shiroishi, Kentridge; Sarah Robbins, Kentlake; Danny Lunder, Kentwood; Tim Pettit, Kentwood; Derrick Daigre, K-M; Matt Bailey, K-M; Alex Horton, Kentridge; Kyle Koon, Kentlake.