Last fall, Dawson Sprinkle typically placed in the middle of the pack at XC meets. In the spring, he made vast improvements and could now be labeled a "good" runner, but was still only the 4th fastest 7th grader on the team. Then he was challenged to keep improving and "catch up with Samuel and Vince." Feeling a bit intimidated with that thought, he sheepishly stated "I'll try to...". But then he caught himself at his words and then said "No, I will do it!" It is like he learned from Yoda in that you either "Do. Or do not. There is no try." At the Nike Portland meet, Dawson DID!!! He placed 26 in the race of the 412 finishers. Washougal has had dozens of MS kids place in the top 50 at this meet and earn a medal, but none so impressively earned as he was only 353rd out of 560 last year!
So far this year, Elle Thomas has won every race she has competed in, but the Nike race at Blue Lake Park was definitely the most exciting. Adorned in her bright orange Washougal uniform, Elle electrified the crowd as she aggressively grabbed the lead from the start. 256 other runners followed in behind her, with several of the top girls in Oregon and Washington hot on her heels seriously challenging her along the way. Elle held onto her position, pulling away slightly at the end to finish in 11:02.8. With the relocation of the Nike meet to a slower Blue Lake Park, we are sure that she would have been well under 11:00 had the race been on a less challenging course. Elle was all smiles that evening after the race, as well as the next day while returning to watch the HS races. It was an e-XC-ELLE-nt day!