Ready to get back in the race
Julian-Blake Cowan can’t wait for his next race.
The Auburn Riverside High junior has a bad taste in his mouth after his fifth-place finish in the Class 3A state cross-country meet in Pasco.
Dozens of other guys would have been happy to have Cowan’s medal, but he had higher aspirations.
“I really wanted to win it,” he said.
Instead, Mount Rainier High senior Ryan Prentice pulled off the victory in 16 minutes, 1 second. Cowan crossed 20 seconds later.
“I just didn’t have it that day,” he said. “When Ryan made his move, I just couldn’t stay with him.”
Cowan was considered a prerace favorite after winning the 3A division of the Westside Classic the week before. He had placed eighth at state as a sophomore, leading the Ravens to a fourth-place finish in the team standings.
“I was pretty confident,” he said. “I was putting a lot of hopes in to state.”
Fortunately, Cowen doesn’t have to wait long to ease his disappointment. He qualified for the Border Clash on Nov. 18, which features the top high-school runners from Washington and Oregon, and is eager for redemption.
“I’m really, really motivated for Border Classic right now,” Cowan said of the race at Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Ore. “I really want to do good down there and get a comeback. I’m definitely pumped for that and making a bigger impression.”
Auburn Riverside coach Bill Sumner has been impressed with Cowan all season.
“Julian has had a fantastic season from day one,” he said. “He told me over the summer that he wanted to win state and he told me the same thing when he finished on Saturday [Nov. 3] for next year. He is the type of kid that works hard every single minute and at the same time loves to run.”
Cowan’s passion started early. He started running at age 10 and soon began competing in road races and Junior Olympic events.
“I was really into it,” he said. “It was my passion.”
Cowan loves competition, but said he would run with or without it.
“It lets me getting away from stuff and gives me time to think about things,” he said.
While the state cross-country meet was far from disastrous - “It was decent, I guess,” he finally says - Cowan is eager to run better in such postseason races as the Border Clash and the Footlocker series, which is held at various sites.
He has big plans for the track season as well. And Cowan already brims with confidence about the 2008 cross-country season.
“Next year is going to be the year,” he said.
Sandy Ringer: 206-718-1518 or sringer@seatteltimes.com