Dominick Canady had pulled ahead of the pack and taken a strong lead. But the sophomore ended the race, his first first-place finish in the mile this season, Thursday, April 28, against Juanita, four seconds below his personal record, and knew he could do better,
Growth has been the name of the game for the Mount Si runner, probably the most improved distance athlete on the Wildcat boys squad this season.
“What’s the point in just staying at the same pace,” Canady said. “You just want to get better and better.”
Distance coach Sean Sundwall said Canady started taking track very seriously following his freshman year.
“He came in on February 20… ready to go,” he said. “He is a visible, vocal leader by his words and actions.”
From questionable work last year, Canady has really settled down, put trust in the coaching staff and lowered his times.
Starting as a runner at middle school, at one point he was third from the bottom on his middle school team. But his father urged him to work harder. That’s exactly what he did during the offseason. He was also helped by new distance coach Sundwall.
Now, he’s got his sights on the future. Look for him to push it in the mile and 800-meter races (great training for junior year, Canady says) this season and at Valley summer festival races.
“At some point, I want to run a sub-four (minute) mile,” Canady said. “It’s probably going to be in college, but that’s something I really want to do.”
Day’s stats
Canady’s performance was among a number of firsts in Mount Si’s Juanita match-up.
Shane Blankenburg took first in the 200 meter dash with 23.48 seconds, while Kaleb Huerta took second in the 100 meter dash at 11.5 seconds.
Jimbo Davis led the 400 meter relay split with 54.8 seconds. Levi Botten was first in the 800 meter race at 2:05.64. Richard Carmichael won the two-mile race with 10:38.8.
The 4X400 relay team of Jimbo Davis, Ryan Olson, Huerta and Tyler Button led with a time of 3:54.81.
In field events, Kolton Auxier led in shot put with 49’1″; Doc Derwin led all comers at discus with 133’9″; Bradly Stevens had the top javelin throw at 175’6″ and Jimbo Davis led with 10’6″ in the pole vault.
In girls events, Abbey Bottemiller led in the 400 meter race with 65.4 seconds, Christina Volken led with 2:28.91 in the 800 meter race. Kendall Maddux had 13:08.81 in the 3200 meter race.
Mount Si’s contingent of Bottemiller, Sophie Rockow, Jesse Guyer and Kristen Kasel dominated the 4X100 meter relay with 52.24.
Bottemiller, Volken, Lindsay Kirby and Madeleine Hutchison led in the 4X400 relay with 4:26.5.
Leslie Stevens had the top javelin throw with 108’11” and the top triple jump with 33’8″. Lexi Swanson had the top pole vault at 8’6″. Ashley Jackson had the top long jump at 14’8.25″.
