EV Goes Fourth For Cross Country Record

Six other teams had tried and failed.

Those six didn’t have the Twin Terrors to carry them through.

East Valley won a state-record fourth consecutive cross country title Saturday, led by twins who were in sixth grade when the streak began.

Freshman Melanie Frostad won the individual title, and sister Melissa was fifth as EV beat yearlong rival Newport of Bellevue 59-85 for the 3A title at Sun Willows Golf Course.

Bellarmine Prep (1977-79), Carroll (‘81-‘83), Edmonds (‘83-‘85), Issaquah (‘85-‘87), Lynnwood (‘88-‘90) and Chelan (‘88-‘90) all fell short of winning four consecutive titles.

Earlier in the season, after losses to Newport at two invitationals, EV appeared headed in the same direction.

“But we knew we had a chance because of the different scoring at those meets,” said Melanie Frostad, who ran the 5,000 meters in 18 minutes, 41 seconds to edge top Capital junior Anna Blue by 2 seconds. EV’s previous best state placers were Connie Benson, 1977, and Angie Simmers, ‘93, both second.

The Knights aced Newport in every scoring spot. Melanie Frostad caught 1-mile leader Jodee Adams-Moore; Melissa Frostad and Korinda Godwin placed well ahead of Newport’s 2 and 3; and Cara Smith and Crystal Gerky had a 10-second bulge on Newport’s 4 and 5.

“What’s exciting is this one is just like the first one,” said EV coach Nick Lazanis. “The first time around it was our first state title, and today we were the first team to win four in a row.”

Seniors Smith and AnnMarie Adams were part of all four titles.

“They did a great job in preparing the other girls,” Lazanis said. Melanie Frostad stood seventh near the one-third point, but she moved up to challenge fellow freshman Adams-Moore by the 1-mile marker. The two fought for position until the final 500 meters, when Frostad’s kick won out. Blue passed Adams-Moore for second.

“I sensed she was weakening because her breathing was getting really hard,” Frostad said of AdamsMoore.

Melissa Frostad (18:54) topped 14th-place Godwin by 30 seconds.

The Frostads, junior Godwin, and sophomores Gerky and JoAnn Adams give EV a strong base for a shot at a fifth straight crown. But Newport could also return five.

EV placed seventh in the boys race, led by juniors Jim Marlow and Ryan Coordes. Marlow placed 16th in 16:26, Coordes 28th in 16:40.

Jackson junior Dustin Duke repeated as boys champion. Sammamish senior Scott Johnson was second.

Capital won with 62 points.

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