Inside EHS Cross Country with Jeff Jacobson

For cross country coach Jeff Jacobson, running for longtime Enumclaw coach Frank Lancaster back in the 70s laid the foundation for what has grown into a long-term passion for team-building and encouraging student athlete participation at very high levels at Enumclaw High School.

"I ran for Frank Lancaster from 1973 to 1977, and one year at Central Washington University," Jacobson said. "I started when the football coaches tried to make me a lineman. I ran until 1994 when I had a heart attack while running with the Enumclaw cross country team; now I just go up Mt. Peak."

Like most coaches at Enumclaw, he also teaches at the school and thus the challenge of keeping tabs on the runners lessens. "Teaching and coaching at Enumclaw is not that hard since I see the runners during the day and then at practice," he said. "I think it would be harder if I wasn't here everyday."

The sport of cross country is unique in that it is scored based on the top seven finishes, so it's easy to assume it's a totally individual sport. However, there is a lot of team-building involved and Jacobson touched on a couple of key elements to his program's success that includes remaining involved in the postseason.

"We dont cut in cross country so average between 40 and 85 kids per year," he said. "The staff makes every runner feel like they are an important part of team."

In addition the squad goes every year to Seaside, Ore., for the Three Course Challenge and Jacobson appreciates the value of such a road trip on an annual basis.

"We spend two days together at Seaside; the parents drive the kids, and we have Friday night bonfire at the beach," he said. "We also stay in the Barracks at Camp Rilea -- it's a weekend of just EHS XC runners hanging out together."

That effort put into team-building puts the spotlight on runners who may typically be overlooked.

"James Mitsuyasu was a never a varsity runner but was out everyday in practice giving 100 percent and was the best teammate any runner could have," Jacobson said.

This year's boys and girls squads head into the District meet on Saturday at American Lake Park down in Lakewood, and Jacobson shared his thoughts and expectations for the upcoming competition.

"The girls finished second at Subdistricts, so they should finish in the top six and qualify for the state meet," he said. "The problem is five of the top 11 schools in the state are in the district so it will be tough."

"The boys are going to have to run one of their best races of the year," he continued. "Individually, I would expect Corey Johnson and Alec Rome to qualify if the team does not make it."

The girls meet starts at 10:30 a.m. and the boys start at 12 p.m. both at American Lake Park in Lakewood.