Coupeville’s contingent at the district cross country meet included runners (l to r) Sam Wynn, Henry Wynn, Danny Conlisk and #1 fan Abby Parker. (Dawnelle Conlisk photo)
As Danny Conlisk stepped to the start line Saturday, the odds were stacked against him.
He had been very sick earlier in the week.
He wasn’t ranked high enough for those on the outside to view him as a major contender.
No one from Coupeville High School had qualified for the state meet in cross country since 2010.
It mattered not.
Conlisk, the smooth-running, serene king of the trail, outran the doubters, his ranking and the screams of his own personal fan club to finish 7th at the West Central District 3 meet at University Place, punching his ticket to the big dance.
After competing at state in track as both a freshman and sophomore, the Wolf junior became the first CHS harrier since Tyler King to qualify for the biggest cross country race of the year.
To achieve the feat, Conlisk needed to place in the top 14 Saturday. Since he entered ranked #21 in a 48-man field, it seemed like a bit of a long shot.
Never doubt the heart of a champion.
Conlisk took three seconds off his PR, clocking in at 17:45.50 seconds while covering 5,000 meters.
“I am mighty proud of him,” said mom Dawnelle Conlisk. “I think Abby Parker and I were more nervous than he was.
“So fun to watch. He passed us in 7th on the first go-by, and at mile two he was still in 7th. We screamed like girls!! So thankful I booked a room for state a few weeks ago.”
Jared Donnel of Bellevue Christian won the individual title, while Charles Wright Academy took the team crown.
The state meet is Saturday, Nov. 4 at the Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco.
Conlisk will be a lone Wolf at the big meet, as his CHS teammates, Sam and Henry Wynn, didn’t make the cut.
Sam, a freshman, finished 41st in 20:38.50, while Henry, a senior, capped his career by hitting the tape in 45th (21:26.60).
Coupeville Sports 
Leave a comment