Runner Seth Mott First Regional Champ For University High

Until his sophomore year, University High’s Seth Mott had never run a competitive distance race.

Two years later he has become the Titans’ first district and regional cross country champion.

Mott’s personal ascendance has been dramatic and swift.

He ran 38th in regional his sophomore year and improved to 10th last year before winning it all a week ago.

“Of course he ran a 4:28 1,600 as a sophomore in track,” said coach Bob Barbero. “That indicates talent.”

On Saturday in Pasco, Mott will lead U-Hi, the state’s top-ranked boys cross country team, in its bid for another school first: the state 4A team championship.

Although Mott’s older brother, Jared, ran cross country and competed in track at Central Valley, Seth dabbled in a variety of sports until a friend convinced him to try distance running at U-Hi.

“Dan Kearsley said it was a lot of fun and I should try it,” said Mott. “He got me to turn out.”

Mott’s first run was a three-mile workout and when he returned he figured it was easy.

The next day he went out with his friends on an eight-miler and realized the amount of work running entailed.

“It was pretty hard finishing,” he said. “But that’s when I started to love running.”

Mott competed behind a stable of standout Spokane distance runners for two years. His performances, while superb, were thus overshadowed.

His sophomore time of 4:28.54 in the 1,600, while qualifying for regional, placed him just eighth in district. Last year, he lowered his time to 4:19.6, but it was only the seventh-best among Spokane runners.

Things have changed this cross country season. He won the Shoreline and Highlander invitationals and finished fourth overall at the Yakima Sunfair.

His only losses to a Spokane runner have been twice to Mt. Spokane’s Tommy Becker.

He surprised Becker for the district championship.

“I thought I could be one of the leaders,” he said, “but I didn’t think I could be No. 1.”

Now the sky’s the limit for Mott, even though he thinks he’s better suited for shorter races.

He and the Titans are hoping that last week’s district championship effort, in which three runners finished among the top four and its five scorers placed in the top 17, can be duplicated.

“My main goal is to win state and help the team win a championship,” said Mott. “It has been ever since summer.”

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