It has been a long haul for Kent-Meridian\u2019s boys cross country team.<\/p>\n
But finally, after an eight-year dry spell, it\u2019s clear the Royals are no longer underdogs.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s pretty great that we\u2019re finally being recognized as being something other than underdogs,\u201d said Derrick Daigre, a state champion on the track last spring and who runs No. 2 for the Royals behind teammate DJ Jigre. \u201cIt\u2019s really nice to finally have a league title \u2026 to break through the tradition.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
This fall there hasn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n
Both wins were pivotal, Kent-Meridian coach Ernie Ammons said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese boys have had goals and a countdown to state the entire time,\u201d Ammons said. \u201cThey 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe win over Tahoma just set everything into motion.\u201d<\/p>\n
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).<\/p>\n
Yet, the most pivotal moment during K-M\u2019s entire season so far, and a big reason for today\u2019s crown, came on a 250-meter dash to the finish line in its narrow victory over Kentwood at Clark Lake Park.<\/p>\n
Daigre entered the final 250-meter strip trailing Kentwood\u2019s 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).<\/p>\n
Daigre\u2019s late kick, however, was the difference between winning the meet and the league crown.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was done,\u201d said Daigre. \u201cI was so done. The pain was so bad I didn\u2019t want to run anymore.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I knew for the team I had to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Winning the title is something the Royals believed was achievable, Daigre added.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the summer, when all the guys came together, we thought we could do it,\u201d he said. \u201cThen we beat Tahoma and the momentum just carried on.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u2019s No. 1 runner, has simply gotten better with every meet.<\/p>\n
\u201cA big factor for us was the maturity of DJ and getting Matt Bailey out was obviously huge,\u201d Ammons said. \u201cDJ has turned into a leader this season and has turned a corner.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe knew we could do it. It\u2019s our time,\u201d Daigre said.<\/p>\n
Indeed it is as the wait is over.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
THE TOP 10<\/b><\/p>\n
Below is a look at the top 10 times posted by male and female runners in the SPSL North this season.<\/b><\/p>\n
BOYS<\/b><\/p>\n
NAME, SCHOOL<\/b>\t\t\tTIME<\/b><\/p>\n
1. Casey Campbell, Tahoma\t\t15:41.0<\/p>\n
2. Kevin Massimino, Kentwood\t\t16:19<\/p>\n
3. DJ Jigre, Kent-Meridian\t\t16:31<\/p>\n
4. Tim Pettit, Kentwood\t\t\t16:37<\/p>\n
5. Danny Lunder, Kentwood \t16:37.73<\/p>\n
6. James Dagley, Tahoma\t\t\t16:45.8<\/p>\n
7. Alex Horton, Kentridge\t\t16:50.7<\/p>\n
8. Will Richmond, Kentwood\t\t16:54<\/p>\n
9. Derrick Daigre, Kent-Meridian\t16:56.28<\/p>\n
10. Matt Bailey, Kent-Meridian \t\t16:56.74<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
GIRLS<\/b><\/p>\n
NAME, SCHOOL<\/b> \t\t\tTIME<\/b><\/p>\n
1. Elizabeth Oosterhout, Tahoma\t\t18:47.5<\/p>\n
2. Julianna Mock, Tahoma\t\t18:47.9<\/p>\n
3. Lauren Clawson, Tahoma\t\t19:02.3<\/p>\n
4. Hannah Mittelstaedt, Tahoma\t\t19:18.3<\/p>\n
5. Alexia Martin, Kent-Meridian\t\t19:20.98<\/p>\n
6. Kailey Ulland, Kentwood\t\t19:34<\/p>\n
7. Allie Wilson, Tahoma\t\t\t19:59.1<\/p>\n
8. Blair Slater, Tahoma\t\t\t20:10.9<\/p>\n
9. Anna deCarteret, Auburn\t\t20:22<\/p>\n
10. Sarah Robbins, Kentlake\t\t20:27.90<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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