Danny Conlisk poses by the rock in front of the CHS gym before heading out to the state cross country meet. (Dawnelle Conlisk photos)
Conlisk hangs out in Pasco with South Whidbey training partners Michael Cepowski (left) and Callahan Yale.
Conlisk and his cold, but proud, mom.
He ran for his school.
He ran for his family and friends.
And, ultimately, he ran in a vain bid to get warm.
The first Coupeville High School cross country runner to compete at the 1A state meet since 2010, Wolf junior Danny Conlisk braved the icy weather in Pasco Saturday, finishing 124th in a field of 156 runners.
He covered 5,000 frigid meters at the Sun Willows Golf Course in 18:06.9.
Kenneth Rooks of College Place capped a stellar career with his second title in three years, hitting the tape in 15:18.
Rooks also won a title at the 1B/2B level as a sophomore, then placed fourth in 1A last season.
Coupeville, which boasts two state title winners (Tyler King in 2010 and Natasha Bamberger in 1985) doesn’t have an active harrier program of its own.
Because of that, Conlisk and his fellow Wolf runners — brothers Henry and Sam Wynn — trained and traveled with South Whidbey this year.
Two of Conlisk’s Falcon buddies, Michael Cepowski and Callahan Yale, also made it to state, finishing 46th and 133rd, respectively.
Medical Lake captured the 1A boys team title, while Klahowya, the only Olympic League school to qualify its entire squad, finished 11th out of 16 teams.
On the girls side, South Whidbey placed 10th out of 16 teams during Saturday’s race.
Freshman Kaia Swegler Richmond was the top Falcon, finishing 14th out of 152 runners.
Conlisk, who became a running convert in recent years, is now a three-time state meet vet, having already punched his ticket in track and field as both a freshman and sophomore.
And, in a neat little twist, the number he wore during Saturday’s meet (#212) matches his birthday, Feb. 12.
Coupeville Sports 