North Central (Spokane) runner Tanner Anderson won the Washington 3A state meet for the second consecutive year. Photo by Lori Wordell.
North Central (Spokane, Wash.) cross country runner Tanner Anderson didn’t buckle when Mt. Spokane (Spokane) runner John Dressel set a blistering early pace up a hill in the Washington 3A state cross country championship on Saturday. Anderson reeled Dressel back in, running a personal best of 14 minutes and 32 seconds to win the 5-kilometer race, at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco. Anderson leads this week’s American Family Insurance ALL-USA Performances of the Week.
“A lot of times guys will wait it out in the middle but in this case, John put in a dead sprint going up a hill at about a mile and a half,” said North Central coach Jon Knight. “After a while, Tanner sensed that John wasn’t gaining on him and that maybe he was catching back to him. When Tanner did go by John, it was like John was standing still and he put 15 seconds him him. This is a hilly course and to run a time like that you have to have perfect weather and it was, 55 degrees, sunny, with no wind.”
Knight said Anderson, a senior who is considering Washington, North Carolina, Northern Arizona, Wisconsin and Syracuse, has steadily improved.
“We knew about him in junior high, but he had never really trained,” Knight said. “He kind of emerged his freshman year and has progressed since then. Last fall was a big breakout when he beat Joe Hardy at state. He’s very economical as a runner and has a good upside. We’re not a high-mileage program, and you have to have some place to grow.”
The rest of the ALL-USA Performances of the Week:
Cedric Battle, running back, Hirschi, Wichita Falls, Texas
Senior rushed for 531 yards and seven touchdowns in a 72-46 win at Burkburnett on Friday.
Kelley Berk, volleyball, Divine Savior Holy Angels, Milwaukee
Senior middle hitter had 18 kills and five blocks to lead her team to a 26-28, 25-11, 23-25, 25-21, 15-10 Wisconsin state title defeat of Muskego on Saturday.
Brady Davis, quarterback, Starkville, Miss.
Senior, who has committed to Memphis, threw for 322 yards and five touchdowns in a 56-46 win Friday at Clinton.
Jon Davis, cross country, Oakwood, Fithian, Ill.
Junior set the state Class A record with a time of 14 minutes and 20 seconds while winning the state meet on Saturday in Peoria by 42 seconds. It was his second consecutive state title.
VIDEO: Davis talks about his state record
Penny Hart, QB, King’s Ridge Christian, Alpharetta, Ga.
Senior, who has committed to Georgia State, led team to its only win this season by passing for 162 yards and rushing for 390 yards and seven touchdowns in a 56-40 defeat of Strong Rock Christian (Locust Grove) on Friday.
Harrison Nowak, quarterback, Strawn, Texas
Senior completed 22 of 44 passes and set a state six-man record by passing for 845 yards and 15 touchdowns in a 109-66 defeat of Gustine on Friday.
Stephanie Rowland, soccer, South Oldham, Crestwood, Ky.
Senior striker, who has committed to Ohio University, scored all of her team’s goals in a 4-1 defeat of Owensboro Catholic in the state championship on Saturday.
Jack Smithson, swimming, St. Andrews Episcopal, Ridgeland, Miss.
Senior broke thestate record in the 200-meter individual medley with a time of 1:56.25, winning the event by nearly 20 seconds. He also won the 100-meter butterfly in 51.86 and swam on the winning 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams.
Andrew Yamin, running back, Cheshire, Conn.
Senior ran for 305 yards and five touchdowns on just eight carries in a 41-14 win at Amity Regional (Woodbridge) on Friday.