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Archive for the ‘Running’ Category

King still has that zing

Posted in Running, tagged , , , , on February 29, 2020| Leave a Comment »

Kyle King (left) and lil’ bro Tyler look fast even when standing still.

Kyle King celebrated Leap Day by going for a run with some of his friends.

Of course, said run just happened to take place on one of the biggest stages possible, as the Coupeville grad competed Saturday in Atlanta at the US Olympic Team Trials.

The former Wolf, a five-time state track and field champ in his days at CHS, finished 47th in a field of 222 runners, covering a 26.2 mile marathon course in 2:18:20.

King stayed strong throughout the race, throwing down his fastest leg in mile 18, which he ran in 4:58.

The top three finishers Saturday qualify for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, with those spots going to Galen Rupp, Jacob Riley, and Abdi Abdiraham.

It’s the fourth-straight time Rupp has made it to the biggest sporting event in the world, having previously competed in Beijing (2008), London (2012) and Rio de Janeiro (2016).

King, a 2008 Coupeville grad, qualified for the US Team Trials off of a stellar performance at the Eugene Marathon in April 2019.

The marathon dream he was chasing was a big one, as only one former Coupeville resident has made an Olympic team.

That came way back in 1920, when Eldon Jenne competed in the pole vault in Antwerp.

In real life, King is a Captain in the Marine Corps, currently stationed at the Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora, Colorado, where he’s an inspector/instructor.

He trained for the trials with a group of other local runners, “The Good Boys Run Club,” four of whom also made the trip to Atlanta.

Prior to the team trials, King ran at the Armed Forces Summer Games in China, where he claimed 8th out of 84 runners.

His recent exploits continues a life-long tear of running success.

While running for dad Randy at CHS, Kyle won state titles in the 3200 three straight years (2006-2008), added the 1600 crown in 2007, and ran a leg on a triumphant 4 x 400 relay unit in 2006.

After graduation, King competed as an NCAA D-I scholarship athlete at two schools – Eastern Washington University and the University of Oklahoma.

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Big effort, bigger payout

Posted in Fundraisers, Running, tagged , , , , on September 1, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Heidi Mayne rises up out of the Whidbey waters as she and others complete a circumnavigation of the island, raising $27,000 for Coupeville teachers and students. (Photos by Morgan White and James Steller)

Getting ready for a run with a view.

The bike gang, hard at work.

Always fuel up before competing.

Attacking the hills and enjoying the new coating recently put down by county crews on the Kettles Trail.

Year three was a rousing success.

A group of Whidbey Island athletes successfully pulled off “Circumnavigate Whidbey 2019” this weekend, raising $27,000 for Coupeville students.

The event, started by James Steller, benefits the Community Foundation for Coupeville Public Schools, which provides support, grants, and scholarships.

Over the course of Saturday and Sunday, athletes ran, biked, and swam their way around Whidbey, traveling the complete length of one of the longest islands in the USA.

Andrew Wyman and Neil Rixe took home unofficial honors as iron men, with the former doing all sports and all distances, while the latter hit the bike like he was in the middle of the Tour de France.

“He biked a zillion miles and never lost speed. Superhuman!,” said an impressed Steller, who threw down the equivalent of two half Ironman Triathlons himself this weekend.

Pat O’Hara joined the core group for day one’s activities, while Greg White was in the thick of things on day two.

Also completing full legs (or more) were Grant Steller, Cole White, Jameson O’Hara, Korianne Emerson, Heidi Mayne, and Alysha Emerson Best.

Giving things a true family feel, kids of all ages jumped in to run bits and pieces of the event, making for “a lot of feels.” 

Pulling off a multi-day event required the help of a large, enthusiastic support crew.

Among those who gave up their holiday weekend to make the magic happen were chief planner Karen Price, support drivers Chic Merwine and Terry Welch, photographer to the stars Morgan White, and the indispensable duo of Amber Wyman and Holley Steller.

Shell Puget Sound Refinery, where James Steller works, made a substantial donation to the event, while money also came from a wide variety of others.

“It is not possible without our amazing community,” Steller said.

“I also want to thank the teachers and administrators of Coupeville Schools, who make a difference in our children’s lives every day!,” he added. “You are loved and appreciated and this is the least we can do for you!!!! Till next year!”

 

For more info on what the Community Foundation does, pop over to:

https://www.4coupevilleschools.org/

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Quick steps, quicker clicks

Posted in Running, tagged , , , , , on August 11, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Lucy Sandahl flies down the backstretch Saturday while running the 10K at Race the Reserve. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Fellow CHS senior Gavin Knoblich dodges raindrops while pulling in volunteer hours.

The runners surge from the starting gate.

Sophie Sandahl cruises by.

Emma Somes protects her noggin from the liquid sunshine.

Michael Sandahl hands out awards (and smiles).

Mary Conlisk zips across the same track brother Danny competed on during his high school days.

Nikolai Lyngra hits the jets as the finish line beckons.

Wolf volleyball superstars Maya Toomey-Stout (left) and Emma Mathusek spend some quality time together.

Back on the Island and back at work.

After spending a chunk of time bouncing around America in an RV, searching for inner truth and such, wanderin’ paparazzi John Fisken returned to Coupeville Saturday morning.

Calling him like a siren song was the 2019 edition of the annual Race the Reserve, a five-race event which raises money for the next graduating class from Coupeville High School.

Dealing with a sudden onslaught of liquid sunshine in the early morning hours, Fisken kept the camera hummin’, and the pics seen above are a taste of what he shot.

To marinate in everything he captured (and possibly purchase some glossies), pop over to:

https://www.johnsphotos.net/Events/Race-The-Reserve-2019/

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They ran between the rain drops

Posted in Running, tagged , , , , , , on August 11, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Former Wolf soccer/tennis star William Nelson had the best finish Saturday of any Coupeville resident, claiming 3rd in the 5K at Race the Reserve. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Aidan Wilson comes in hot in the 5K, finishing a slot behind Nelson.

CHS track coach Lincoln Kelley wraps up his run in the half marathon.

They endured.

Despite a nice burst of summer rain Saturday, the annual Race the Reserve drew a fair amount of runners to Whidbey Island.

The event, which is the biggest fundraiser for the Coupeville High School Class of 2020, featured five events – a marathon, half marathon, 5K, 10K, and a marathon relay.

Runners pounded across the pavement and prairie, traveling through Ebey’s Landing National Historic Reserve, with cloudy views of nearby mountains and the Strait of Juan de Fuca along the way.

Mixed in among the participants were Coupeville athletes, and they, by virtue of their hometown, get their name on the internet today.

From Sherman Oaks or Coronado? Good on you, but this blog is called Coupeville Sports, so it is what it is.

 

Runners who listed Coupeville as their home town:

 

Marathon:

NONE

 

Marathon Relay:

Coupeville XC 1.1 — Jack Porter, George Spear, Ayden Wyman, Hank Milnes, Johnny Porter — (2nd) 3:54:36.4

Coupeville XC 1.0 — Andrew Williams, Hayden Harry, Tate Wyman, Cole White, Chase Anderson, Aiden O’Neill — (4th) 4:17:35.8

 

Half Marathon:

Michael Linder (22nd) 1:58:50.7
Christina Jump (27th) 2:02:35.5
Lark Gustafson (41st) 2:13:32.1
Neil Anthony (59th) 2:35:16.4
Lincoln Kelley (72nd) 3:03:00.4

 

10K:

Todd Wentworth (7th) 52:40.4
Lucy Sandahl (14th) 1:01:21.6
Alison Perera (15th) 1:01:46.3
Sophie Sandahl (21st) 1:05:07.8
Lori Callahan (32nd) 1:13:10.4
David Ford (38th) 1:17:05.1
Stephanie Cantu (48th) 1:32:28.1
Sarah Meyer (49th) 1:37:00.2
Abbie Martin (50th) 1:37:00.3
Everett Winsberg (56th) 1:44:11.5
Kathryn Rickner (57th) 1:46:24.9
Elizabeth Florkowski (58th) 1:46:24.5
Gaye Rodriguey (61st) 1:58:52.1
Connie Lippo (65th) 2:01:13.3

 

5K:

William Nelson (3rd) 21:30.5
Aidan Wilson (4th) 22:37.4
Danny Conlisk (6th) 25:33.5
C. Wilson (20th) 29:52.0
Susan Marchese (31st) 32:48.6
Kenneth Conlisk (34th) 33:24.3
Dianna Wells (42nd) 35:38.6
Debbie Thompson (54th) 40:36.1
Mary Conlisk (56th) 41:36.1
Catherine Wilson (62nd) 48:51.0
Casara Elliff (63rd) 48:57.1
Sheila O’Rourke (71st) 52:07.1

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Kyle King chases big marathon dreams

Posted in Running, tagged , , , , on August 6, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Coupeville brothers Kyle (left) and Tyler King both ran at the Eugene Marathon in April. Now Kyle is headed to the USA Olympic Team Trials. (Photo courtesy Tyler King)

Right on time.

A century after Coupeville native Eldon Jenne pole vaulted at the 1920 Olympics in Antwerp, Cow Town has a second athlete in the mix.

This time around it’s Kyle King, who is pursuing a spot on the USA men’s marathon team which will compete at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

The 2008 Coupeville High School grad punched his ticket to the Olympic Team Trials, which will be held Feb. 29, 2020 in Atlanta.

The top three finishers there comprise the USA team, with the fourth and fifth-place finishers designated as alternates.

The Tokyo Olympics are July 24-Aug. 9, with the men’s marathon set for the final day of competition.

King qualified for the Team USA trials with his performance at the Eugene Marathon April 28, where he finished in two hours, 18.04 seconds.

He’s one of 181 male runners who have hit a qualifying time – 2:19 in a marathon or 1:04 in a half marathon.

The pack is currently led by Galen Rupp, who ran a 2:06.07 at the Prague Marathon.

Rupp is trying to make his fourth-straight Olympics team, having competed in Beijing (2008), London (2012), and Rio de Janeiro (2016).

He claimed a silver medal in the 10,000 meters at London and a bronze in the marathon in Rio.

King is a busy guy these days on multiple fronts.

He’s a Captain in the Marine Corps and is currently stationed at the Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora, Colorado.

“I’m an inspector-instructor,” King said. “Basically I run a small active duty site support staff for a reserve artillery battery that is stationed here.”

Three days a week he’s up and out on the road at the crack of dawn to train with others in the area who will also be at the Olympic trials.

“Got a pretty cool crew I work with out here,” King said. “No Instagram yet, but we’re starting “The Good Boys” Run Club.

“Group of five of us all training for the trials, all have outside jobs, so we get together and run three days a week at 0545 to workout before work.”

Along with his training, King plans to run in the San Jose Half Marathon Oct. 6, then is off to China for the Armed Forces Summer Games.

He’ll be in Wuhan for two weeks, with the marathon going down Oct. 27.

Then it’s back to training for the biggest race of his already well-distinguished career, a 26.2 mile event which will pit him against the best the USA has to offer.

During his days on Whidbey, King won five state track and field titles, tying him with Natasha Bamberger as the most-decorated athlete in school history.

He won the 3200 three straight years (2006-2008), added the 1600 crown in 2007, and ran a leg on a triumphant 4 x 400 relay unit in 2006.

After graduation, King ran as an NCAA D-I scholarship athlete at two schools – Eastern Washington University and the University of Oklahoma.

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