Coupeville Sports

Tyler King fuels the engine. (Haley Jacobson photo)

Today Tyler King celebrates his birthday.

Tomorrow, he and his teammates on the University of Washington mens’ cross country squad prepare to scorch some booty in California at the NCAA West Regionals.

The Huskies, ranked 29th in the nation, are aiming for a berth at the NCAA National Championships Nov. 23, but will have to traverse the 10,000 meter course at Sacramento State’s Haggin Oaks Golf Complex quickly to capture one.

The top two teams automatically qualify, with nine regions accounting for the first 18 teams for nationals. After that, there are 13 wild card berths, which can be tricky to nab.

Last year, the Dawgs were the 32nd team, missing out by one slim slot.

King, a redshirt sophomore who still holds numerous Coupeville High School records, is finally fully healthy after battling illness for much of the season. This will be his second go-round at regionals.

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Tyler King contemplates his future. “I shall run, son. I shall run fast.”

Tyler King went up 5,000 feet to run 8,000 meters Saturday.

Competing in the rarefied air in Colorado, the University of Washington sophomore placed 31st at the Pac-12 Cross Country Championships to help spark the Huskies to their best team finish in four years.

Competing against three of the top 13 teams in the nation — #1 Colorado, #4 Oregon and #13 Stanford — Washington finished fifth, being edged out at the very end by Arizona State. It was the best results for the Husky men since 2009.

King, a state champion during his time in the red and black of Coupeville High School, was the third-fastest Husky on the afternoon, clocking in at 26 minutes, two seconds.

He and his teammates next travel to Sacramento, where they will run in the NCAA West Regionals Friday, Nov. 15 in a bid to qualify for the national championships.

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Tyler King: cross country runner by day, fashion model by night. (Katie Flood photo)

Tyler King went running with a few friends Saturday morning.

Competing in the 8K at the prestigious Wisconsin Adidas Invitational, the Coupeville High School grad finished 180th in a field of nearly 300 runners.

The University of Washington redshirt sophomore was just ten seconds off the pace of eventual winner Kemoy Campbell of Arkansas at the mile mark as they ran at the Thomas Zimmer Cross Country course.

King eventually crossed the line in 24 minutes, 51 seconds, while Kemoy held off several challengers at the end to win in 23:12.

Northern Arizona, ranked third in the country, won the team title. 35 teams competed, including 19 ranked squads. The unranked Huskies did better than expected, finishing 15th.

King and his teammates return to competition Saturday, Nov. 2 at the Pac-12 Championships in Colorado.

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Tyler King

Tyler King faced down some of the baddest dudes in the Northwest Saturday and acquitted himself quite nicely.

Running at the prestigious Bill Dellinger Invitational in Eugene, the Coupeville High School grad finished 26th in a field of 115 runners.

His time of 24 minutes, 52 seconds made him the third fastest runner on the University of Washington squad, as they competed at an event named in honor of a Hall of Fame runner.

Fellow Husky Aaron Nelson won the individual title, while highly-ranked hosts University of Oregon took the team title. Boise State claimed second and the U-Dub and Portland tied for third overall.

The Husky women, led by Amy-Eloise Neal, ran away with the team title. Neal, a ten-time state champ at Glacier Peak High School, made her college debut and busted out a third place finish.

King, a redshirt sophomore, and his teammates now have two weeks off before heading to Wisconsin for the Adidas Invitational Oct. 19.

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Tyler King: American Hero

Glossy. So glossy… So that’s what all that alumni money goes to pay for. (Photo courtesy Jay Roberts)

New season, same old Tyler King.

The let’s-go-run-in-the-snow-shirtless beast of Coupeville High School track and cross country legend continues to churn along under scholarship at the University of Washington.

Opening a new collegiate cross country season, he graced a spread in Dawg Digest, the bible for U-Dub sports fans, and busted out an impressive run in the season opener.

Running at the Sundodger Men’s Invitational Sept. 14 in Seattle, King finished third in 24 minutes, five seconds, helping to propel the Huskies to a team title.

Washington won both the mens’ and womens’ titles at the event, the seventh straight season the Huskies have pulled off the feat.

King and his teammates next compete at the Bill Dellinger Invitational in Oregon Oct. 5.

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