State title is last hurdle for Harris

K-M senior sets his sights on friendly rival from Garfield in pursuit of a Star Track blue ribbon

TACOMA – Kent-Meridian’s Sean Harris put himself in a great position to end his string of second-place finishes Garfield’s Stephone Jordan on the track.

The Royals senior grabbed some attention by running a state-best and personal-best time of 14.40 seconds in the preliminaries of the 110-meter high hurdles last Friday in the Class 4A West Central District meet at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma.

On Saturday, he won his second district title in the 110s, covering it in 14.73.

Harris, a senior who likely will accept a track and field scholarship at Washington State University, hopes to turn the tables in one final go at Jordan, the defending Class 4A state champion in the 110 hurdles.

After three losses in two seasons, Harris would like nothing more than to put an end to the Jordan Rules.

“I’m sick of second,” Said Harris, who was nipped by Jordan 14.51 to 14.70 in the 2007 finals of the 110 hurdles at Class 4A state in Pasco. “Every time it’s me and him, I get the red ribbon. It’s second place.

“We’ve raced three times and, he got me all three times. It’s always just by a little each time.”

The Class 4A and 3A state meets take place at Edgar Brown Stadium on the campus of Pasco High School this Friday and Saturday.

Harris’ prelim time of 14.40 eclipsed the best clockings shared by Jordan and Everett’s J Hopkins at 14.55. Harris won’t have to contend with Hopkins, but he figures to get the usual dose of Jordan, who battled through a late-season hamstring injury to round into good form for state.

“I thought my weekend was good and bad,” said Harris, who will focus on the decathlon in college. “I set a personal record in hurdles and had a state best time. I did not do so well in high jump and shot put.

“How I did in the hurdles puts me in a very good position, but anything can happen. I’m not going to write anybody off.”

Harris and Jordan are sure to talk about their rivalry this week before state, and the rivalry will likely culminate with the duo in the state finals.

“That would be really exciting,” Harris said. “We talk all the time. We always try to one up each other. He got me last year, so I’d like to leave on even terms.”

Kent-Meridian coach Ernie Ammons, thinks it could be Harris’ time to shine in a healthy rivalry.

“Sean wants a shot at him,” Ammons said of Harris, who is big and strong compared to Jordan’s long and lean build. “He remembers last season. How Sean’s times have dropped during the season, that’s setting a tone for a great match-up.

“Last year was a great match-up. It wasn’t decided until the last two hurdle lengths. (Sean) just needs to push a little longer.”

Harris felt the weather had a lot to do with his improved time in the 110 hurdles, but his performance in the finals wasn’t what he wanted.

“It was definitely the weather,” he said. “It was really nice out being 80 to 90 degrees. Every other meet, it seems it’s just raining. We never really got to run in perfect conditions before this.

“I guess Pasco is supposed to be hot. I’m really looking forward to that.”

There was nearly a snafu that kept Harris from winning the district crown in the 110s. First, it was his hamstrings tightening up. Then, it was his poor application of Icy Hot to remedy the problem.

That almost caused a bigger problem as the ointment got to a more sensitive area.

“I had an Icy Hot mishap,” Harris said. “I actually have had my hamstring tightening up on me a lot, and have been having to put Icy Hot on them.

“The Icy Hot got me a slower time in the finals on Saturday. It was very poor application that did it.”

Notes: Kentwood junior Devin St. Clair made to 4A state as an individual for the first time in fine fashion, winning both the 100 and 200 races in 10.98 seconds and 22.97, respectively. St. Clair benefited from a less-than-100 percent Ezra John Griffey of Decatur in those events. Griffey was second in the 200 and third in the 100 last season at 4A state. Now, St. Clair could be considered the favorite in both events at state. … Kentwood teammate Cody Fishel won the high jump narrowly over CJ Wright of Lincoln. Both cleared 6-5, but Fishel won the tiebreaker by making it in fewer attempts. … Kentridge’s Evan Rodgers took top honors in the pole vault at district, clearing 13-6. … The Kent-Meridian boys 1,600 relay team moves on to state after taking third at district in 3:26.61. … Tahoma senior Jonothan Lafler, seventh in the 1,600 at state last year, enters state after a third-place finish in the 1,600 at district. Lafler finished more than four seconds behind Gig Harbor’s Miles Unterreiner. … In girls district competition, Kentwood basketball star Lindsey Moore won the javelin by throwing 120-7. … Kent-Meridian’s Kelsey Bueno won the pole vault in a tiebreaker by clearing 10-6. … The Tahoma girls took second in the 800 relay to advance to state.