Less than three weeks until track is back for all the high schools. With that being said, hope everyone is getting in their last minute mileages for the offseason. Time to take a look at the 2A boys to watch for this upcoming season.
Luke Knoblich - Liberty (Issaquah)
1,600, 3,200
The long-haired wonder, Luke Knoblich, looks for a bounce back track season in last year of school after having finished 18th at the 2A state cross meet. The Liberty senior is the top returning 2A distance runner in the 1,600 and 3,200. Knoblich times in his junior track season were 4:21.46 and 9:20.78 and are both personal best times. Finished sixth in the 1,600 and third in the 3,200 at the 2A state track meet. Since Knoblich's school are the Patriots, we will be aware, "He's still here" to win a state championship in the 3,200.
Pearse Popchock - Black Hills
800, 1,600
Black Hills senior Pearse Popchock is the second best 2A 800/1,600 duo runner returning from last spring with times of 1:55.68 and 4:22.08. Popchock was third in the 800 and fifth in the 1,600 at the 2A state track meet last spring. He was part of the trio that finished .57 tenths of a second behind last years state champion. In the fall, Popchock placed 17th at the 2A state cross meet. He is one of the three runners at the 2A level in contention for the 800 state crown.
Eliason Kabasenche - Pullman
1,600, 3,200
Eliason Kabasenche came out of nowhere this past fall in Pasco when he won the 2A state cross country title, taking down the top three runners ranked ahead of him. Only a junior, Kabasenche has shown he can compete with any runner that is put on the track with him. He performed very well at the state track meet this last spring taking third in the 1,600 and fifth in the 3,200. His personal best marks are 4:22.21 and 9:27.38, which were both ran at the state meet. An emotional runner with a lot of heart for this sport.
Kyle Radosevich - Ridgefield
1,600, 3,200
Unlike the other runners on this list, Ridgefield's Kyle Radosevich ran track for the first time last spring since his middle school days. He made the switch over from soccer last spring and made the 2A state track meet in the 3,200, where he placed sixth and ran a personal best 9:29.24. Radosevich had the No. 1 time for all 2A boys last cross country season running 15:09.2. Runner-up at the 2A state cross meet this past fall. After a year of experience in track, Radosevich is another favorite to win the state 3,200 championship.
Tate Hutchins - Lynden
800, 1,600
Lynden's Tate Hutchins final high school cross country season may have not gone to plan due to a leg injury, but people in Whatcom County know his main events are mid-distance. He placed 23rd at the 2A state cross meet. In his junior track year, Hutchins placed fourth in the 1,600 and 3,200 at the 2A state track meet. His best times were 1:55.77 and 4:22.65. Predominately known for sprinter and jumpers, Hutchins has put Lynden on the distance running map for the last two years.
Others to Watch for:
Lucas Cunningham - Sehome: Runner up in the 800 at the 2A state track meet. Placed 16th at the 2A state cross meet.
Murray Bingham - Sequim: Placed seventh in the 800 and 15th in the 1,600 at the 2A state track meet. Placed 13th at the 2A state cross meet.
Gabriel Dinnel - Washougal: Third place finisher at the 2A state cross meet. Qualified for the 2A 3,200 state race last spring and finished 12th.
Isaiah Ellis - Lynden: Placed fifth at the 2A state cross meet. Ran 4:30.9 as a sophomore, but unfortunately got sick at the end of the year.
Logan Hanrahan - Anacortes: Ran 1:59.42 and 4:29.28 in his sophomore season.