Welcome back to track and field in the state of Washington. The conclusion of our boys track and field distance runners previews ends with a look at the 1B level. Let's meet these individuals to watch for and hope to see them at the state meet at Cheney in May.
Jonathan Brown, Mount Vernon Christian
For the last few years, Mount Vernon Christian has been fortunate enough to develop some talented distance runners, including Jonathan Brown. Last spring, Brown qualified for the 1B state track meet in two events and placed eighth in the 1,600 meter running a season best time of 4:53.39 and ninth in the 3,200 meter running 10:39.29. Brown's personal best marks in these events are 4:47.31 and 10:22.7, which were both ran his sophomore year. In the fall, Brown ran a new 5,000 meter personal best time of 16:58 and qualified for the 1B/2B state cross meet. The 2019 track season a was setback year for Brown given he wasn't able to hit the times he ran as a sophomore. I expect a breakout year in his senior season and he will be a top five finisher in both the 1,600 and 3,200 meter races at the state meet.
Kobe Deutscher, Pope John Paul II
Kobe Deutscher continues to impress the running community in the state every year since his freshman season. As a sophomore in track last spring, Deutscher was the 1B state champion the 800 and 1,600 meter races running 2:01.31 and 4:29.69, and was the runner-up in the 3,200 meter behind his brother, Caden Deutscher, running 10:02.42. Both Kobe Deutscher's 1,600 and 3,200 meter races were personal best marks. In the fall, Deutscher placed third at the 1B/2B state cross country meet running a 5,000 meter time of 16:05.8. Ran a personal best time of 15:49.7 earlier in the year at the Nike Twilight Invite where he placed second overall. Deutscher is my early season favorite to repeat as the 800 and 1,600 meter state champion, but don't be surprised if he can pull off a 3,200 meter win at state as well.
William Dick IV, Wellpinit
William Dick IV is one of the few eighth graders at the small school level that can say he was able to qualify for a high school state track meet. Last spring, Dick IV was ninth in the 1,600 meter and 11th in the 3,200 meter at the 1B state track meet running personal best times of 4:55.07 and 10:49.09. He was also a member of Wellpinit's 400 and 1,600 meter relay teams that finished ninth and 10th in the preliminary round. In the fall, Dick IV placed 77th at the 1B/2B state cross country meet in a time of 18:10.3 for 5,000 meters, 20 seconds off his personal best of 17:50. Dick IV's cross country season is no indicator of the type of runner he is. This young man is the future and has tons of potential to be the next great 1B distance runner. Look for him to place top eight in both the 1,600 and 3,200 meter races at state.
Isaac Immel, Riverside Christian
Give credit to Isaac Immel for what he accomplished his freshman year qualifying for the 1B state track meet in three events. And not only did he qualify in three, he placed in two of them. Immel was fifth in both the 800 and 1,600 meter races running personal best times of 2:10.69 and 4:47.57, while in the 3,200 meter he was 10th running 10:45.08, which is only a second off his personal best time. In the fall, Immel began the cross country season running 17:35 for 5,000 meters and ended the season with a 10th place finish and a new personal best time of 16:39.1 at the 1B/2B state meet. Immel is my dark horse pick for this season for what he had shown last year as a freshman . Look for him to place at the state track meet as a top three finisher in the 800 and 1,600 meter, and a top five finisher in the 3,200 meter.
Justin Peck, Trout Lake
Although there are no seniors on this list, junior Justin Peck is the veteran runner of this young group as he has competed in three 1B state track meets since his eighth grade season. Last spring, Peck placed third at the state meet in both the 1,600 and 3,200 meter races running personal best times of 4:37.19 and 10:06.68. Peck was also on Trout Lake's 1,600 meter relay team that was fifth at state. In the fall, Peck was the runner-up and top 1B athlete at the 1B/2B state cross country meet as he ran a personal best time of 15:59.8 for the 5,000 meter race. As the best long distance runners at this level, Peck is my favorite to win this year's 3,200 meter state title. Look for Peck to also contend with Pope John Paul's Deutscher in the 1,600 meter.
Mason Stock, Trout Lake
Mason Stock follows in the footsteps of his teammate, Justin Peck, as another good runner that Trout Lake is developing. After placing 10th in the 1,600 and 3rd in the 3,200 meter his freshman season, Stock only qualified in one event for the 1B state track meet in the 3,200 meter where he placed sixth in a time of 10:31.62, four seconds off his personal best time of 10:27.62. In the fall, Stock ran 17:06.8 to place 23rd at the 1B/2B state cross country meet, and ran a personal best 5,000 meter time the week before at districts in 17:05.5. Can Stock return to the state track meet in the 1,600 meter in his sophomore year? Yes, I think so, and if he does, he will have a shot at the podium. And of course, Stock will be a top five finisher in the 3,200 meter.
Editor's Note: The top 1B boys distance runners list was compiled by track and field and cross country analyst Keenan Gray.