BATTLE GROUND — The footing goes, followed by a loss of balance, and finally gravity takes over.
The top Class 4A boys cross country runner in Southwest Washington took a spill Thursday at Lewisville Park.
Even for the best athletes, it is a dreadful sensation.
But the best athletes also know how to handle such a situation.
“It got my heart rate going. I just tried to relax as fast as I could and get to the line,” Yacine Guermali said. “When things like that happen, you can panic, maybe go too fast too early. I just had to relax.”
Guermali slipped and fell about mid-race in the Class 4A District 4 cross country championship. Then Guermali got up and cruised to his second district title.
A senior at Camas, Guermali clocked in on the 5,000-meter course with a time of 15 minutes, 55 seconds.
Daniel Maton took second place, 25 seconds behind the winner.
A year ago, Maton finished 10th in this event.
“I did a lot more training,” Maton said.
Plus, he has a good training partner.
“I just tried to stay up with him as long as possible,” he said of Guermali.
The Papermakers scored 28 points to run to the team title.
This is the second year in a row the Papermakers took the top two spots.
“It’s great to go 1-2 again to see if we’re the same strength or ever stronger than last year,” Maton said.
Skyview, led by Chance Gilbert (third place) and Zeke Oien (fourth), was second with 56 points. Union took third at 66. All three teams advanced to the 4A bi-district meet for a chance to qualify for state. The top 21 individual runners made it to bi-district.
“Even though we were coming in as the team favorites and we have strong individuals, we had to come out here and make it a hard race for ourselves,” Guermali said. “Make ourselves hurt today, and make sure we’re getting ready.”
The layout at Lewisville Park is demanding, with a big hill toward the end.
“This is a great course to feel the pain,” Guermali said.
Guermali said his sub-16-minute time was good, considering the conditions, the difficulty of the course, and his fall.
“I’m happy with the time. I’m happy with the effort,” he said.
