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Posts Tagged ‘Junior Olympics’

Conlisk right in stride

Posted in Track, tagged , , , , , on June 21, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Danny Conlisk graduated from CHS, but he’s still tearing up the track oval. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

They threw weather at him, and a packed field, and yet he endured.

Coupeville’s Danny Conlisk stared down cold, windy conditions and a group of 31 other runners Friday, winning his prelim heat in the 200 at the USATF Pacific Northwest Association Junior Olympic Championships.

The two-time state champ, who is running for the Kitsap Fliers this spring and summer, hit the tape in 22.58 seconds at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma.

That was the best showing in heat #5, and seeds him #3 for the finals in the event.

It also qualified Conlisk for the Junior Olympic Regionals, which go down July 4-7.

His current meet is a three-day affair, with Conlisk scheduled to run in two finals each of the next two days.

He’ll lace up his running shoes for the 400 and 4 x 100 relay Saturday, then head to the line Sunday in the 200 and 4 x 400.

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“Thank you for running with me!!”

Posted in Track, tagged , , , , on August 20, 2018| Leave a Comment »

Coupeville senior Danny Conlisk flies through the summer track season. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Hittin’ the big time. (Dawnelle Conlisk photo)

Never forget where you came from.

Danny Conlisk may have spent the summer running near and far, competing for the Kitsap Fliers and advancing all the way to the national Junior Olympics track and field meet, but he still lives by those words.

The Coupeville High School senior, also fond of shaking the hands of each foe on the oval, benefited from the support of local fans, even if they couldn’t see most of his summer meets in person.

So, we’re turning over the mic to Mr. Conlisk, who wants to make sure everyone in Wolf Nation knows how much he appreciates them.

THANK YOU!!

I couldn’t have ever imagined the change that did come my way just from moving to a small town on an Island.

The support from my community, friends, family, teachers, coaches, board members, bus driver, teammates and my mom’s coworkers too is truly amazing.

Thank you for cheering me on and supporting me in my running world.

Coupeville has made me who I am today, because of people like you.

Elizabeth, Peggy, Melody, Erin, Jaime, Kathy, Jackie, Kathleen, Ann, Marci, Karen, Janette, Melinda, Natasha, Jamie, Judie and Bob, your generous financial support to help my family go with me to Nationals deeply touches me.

I know this journey in life isn’t mine alone.

Knowing I have so many cheering me on, pushes me to run even harder.

As I head into my senior year of high school, I look backwards to how far I have come.

From my first day at Coupeville Elementary School (which was the middle of 4th grade), reading my essay as the shy kid at 5th grade moving on, trying out for track in 8th grade (after never playing a sport in my life), to being the student school board member.

A solid platform under me now, that has set the stage for my future.

Never wanting to be the cocky jock, and still learning it’s OK to celebrate being good at something.

Knowing you all are behind me helps.

While Nationals didn’t turn out as I wanted, it was a giant highlight and learning experience. Not a wasted trip at all.

Knowing I went there ranked third in our region, and ended up in the top 61 in the whole United States, is still something to celebrate.

The advice on my form, stretches, jumping and starts from so many coaches, who just were eager to share and celebrate, was a priceless gift.

I am excited to head into my senior year of cross country (first official practice was today, first meet is on the second day of school).

Hoping to get into some indoor track meets this winter and the cherry on top will be ending my high school senior year in track and, if I keep training hard, right back to state championships in the 400.

Thank you again for running with me.

Sincerely,

Danny Conlisk

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Conlisk caps summer running season!!

Posted in Track, tagged , , , , , on July 27, 2018| Leave a Comment »

   Coupeville’s Danny Conlisk (left) and Kitsap Fliers teammate James Dillow wait for their race at the National Junior Olympics in North Carolina. (Dawnelle Conlisk photos)

A brief nap before bringing the speed to the oval.

Conlisk was awarded this for setting a Fliers record in the 400.

Hanging out with mom.

After all the training, all the fundraising, all the cross-country travel, all the dodging of rain and lightning, the big event was over in less than a minute.

Running in Greensboro, North Carolina Friday morning, Coupeville’s Danny Conlisk finished his summer track season by competing in the 400 at the USATF Hershey National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships.

The Wolf senior, a four-time state meet participant at CHS, flew around the oval at Irwin Belk Stadium at North Carolina A&T University in 52.39 seconds.

Conlisk, running for the Kitsap Fliers, was competing in the boys 17-18 division, with 60 other runners from across the country.

There were eight heats in the 400, with the top eight times overall (regardless of where runners placed) advancing to Sunday’s final.

Those eight fleet-footed track stars will receive All-American status.

Derrick Price of New Era Track led the way Friday, burning through the heat and humidity to run a 47.35.

Conlisk, the student rep on the school board, now returns to CHS, where he’ll help the Wolves launch an in-house cross country program after a two-decade absence.

He also has one more track season remaining, where he’ll go for a fourth-straight state meet appearance.

Conlisk finished 2nd in the 400 as a junior, and was the only non-senior in the eight-man 1A finals this spring.

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“Just so very proud!!”

Posted in Track, tagged , , , , on July 24, 2018| Leave a Comment »

Danny Conlisk and his fleet feet are in North Carolina this week for the National Junior Olympics. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Opening ceremonies went on Tuesday, despite rain and lightning. (Dawnelle Conlisk photos)

Conlisk (second from right) and his teammates celebrate reaching the big time.

There was a Wolf sighting Tuesday in North Carolina.

Coupeville High School senior Danny Conlisk is at the National Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships in Greensboro, and took part (for a while) in the rain-soaked opening ceremonies.

“It was dumping rain, and lightning had our crew jump out of the opening parade half way through,” said mom Dawnelle Conlisk. “Coach kicked them all out and back to their rooms.

“Not getting sick on his watch.”

Danny Conlisk, a four-time state meet participant (three track, one cross country), will compete in the 400.

Prelims are Friday and finals Sunday, with the top eight finishers earning All-American status.

He’s running with the Kitsap Fliers this summer.

Traveling cross country, running through airports, and seeing her once-shy son step into the spotlight has been a magical series of moments for mama.

“It was beyond emotional and I cried as I watched them walk the track,” Dawnelle Conlisk said. “Didn’t see that emotion coming.

“My face was so wet from the rain, thanks for the camouflage,” she added. “Just so very proud and excited for our boy.”

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Dig deep for Danny!!

Posted in Track, tagged , , , , on July 8, 2018| Leave a Comment »

Danny Conlisk hangs out with mom, and faithful fan, Dawnelle.

We need to make Danny Conlisk run out of town.

And by that, I mean, I’m calling on all Wolf fans out there to support the easy-going whirlwind of the track oval, and help him, his mom, and his sister make it to the national Junior Olympics.

Conlisk, who will be a senior at Coupeville High School this fall, ran strongly in the 400 at regionals Saturday and punched his ticket to the biggest meet of the year.

Only issue is nationals, which run July 23-29, is held in Greensboro, North Carolina.

But we’re going to make this happen.

So, I have taken it upon myself to engage in some participatory journalism, by launching a GoFundMe for Conlisk.

The money raised would pay for plane tickets for Danny, mom Dawnelle, and sister MaryBeth, as well as a rental car when the trio is on the ground.

Why help Conlisk, you ask?

Because he’s a class act in every way, a young man who has used running to shape his world and open up multiple new doors for himself.

From a quiet kid entering high school, he has emerged as a leader, a four-time (and counting) state meet participant, a strong student and a member of the Coupeville School Board.

When Danny comes bolting down the backstretch, serene look on his face as he blitzes past rival runners, his teammates lose their minds.

They do it because he’s developed into a killer on the oval, but even more so because he is such a good guy, and that’s something you can’t fake for too long.

Look beyond the ripped tape and the timers checking their stats, and all you need to know about Conlisk is on display as he seeks out and shakes the hand of each rival after his races, win or loss.

The quiet kid, who has become a stellar young man, is class, pure and simple.

He makes Coupeville look good, and we have a chance to put him on a national stage, where the whole USA can see Cow Town’s finest up close and personal.

How can you say no to that?

Spoiler: you can’t.

 

To help Danny and Co. make the trip to Carolina, pop over to:

https://www.gofundme.com/fly-danny-fly

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