Switch to track pays off for DP’s Amann

It was mildy surprising this spring when Dan Amann of Deer Park ran 4 minutes, 22.69 seconds in his first-ever 1,600 meters.

Yes, he was new to track, but certainly not new to long-distance running. After all, he placed sixth at the State 2A cross country meet last fall.

Amann, a junior, was a starter at shortstop and pitcher as a freshman and sophomore on the Stags’ varsity baseball team. But he didn’t see a future in baseball.

“I love to run and I’ve played baseball my whole life, but running will take me further than Deer Park baseball would,” Amann said of switching sports.

Amann will likely compete in the 800 and 1,600 and run a leg on the 1,600 relay at the district meet today and Friday at West Valley. He has the eighth-best 1,600 in 2A in the state, and teammate Dayde Collins is ranked in the 800 (1:58.78) – although Amann’s 800 split in the distance medley at the Mooberry Relays was considerably faster. The two also run on the 1,600 relay, which is ranked second in the Great Northern League behind East Valley.

Amann ran four events May 2 when he helped Deer Park pull off a first – a boys league championship.

Asked if he had particular times as goals, he said no.

“The place I finish is really what matters the most to me,” Amann said. “The team’s the best it’s ever been. I’m trying to win for my team and take it as far as it can go.”

Undefeated finish

The Central Valley girls team is sending longtime coach Dennis McGuire out on top.

The Bears completed the Greater Spokane League season undefeated last week at 9-0, handing McGuire a league title. He plans to resign as head coach but return next spring as an assistant. He will continue as head cross country coach.

“Although it’s never been about winning for me, I love to win,” McGuire said. “I know that sounds odd but if I coached just to be a champion I would spend most of my years being disappointed. I coach to see improvement in every girl and hope that they have learned some valuable life lessons in the process. If we can win on the way, it is a bonus. … Since it’s my last year as head coach, I think I appreciate it even more. It makes it sweet to go out on top and leave the program in good condition.”

Premier running goes on

The GSL long ago established a tradition for being the hotbed in the state for distance running. Runners haven’t disappointed this spring.

Last week, North Central junior Katie Knight broke the league record in the 1,600 with a time of 4:55.39, breaking the mark she set in 2010 (4:57.9).

Knight has the best 3,200 time in the state (10:20.11).

She’s not alone. NC sophomore Kai Wilmot has the best 3,200 among the boys in the state (8:57.66), and Shadle Park senior Nathan Weitz has the second-best 1,600 (4:08.30), which he ran on the same cold miserable day last Thursday, the same time Knight broke the league record – against no competition.

Gonzaga Prep’s Conor McCandless is the No. 1-ranked runner in the nation in the 1,500. Granted, few states feature the 1,500, but Oregon does. McCandless attended the Jesuit Twilight Relays last Friday and clocked 3:54.36 to win the 1,500.

That time converted to 1,600 would be 4:11.59 – second best in the area behind Weitz.

Interestingly, the second-best 1,500 in the nation belongs to Mead’s Andrew Gardner. He ran 3:54.93 at the Centennial Invite in Gresham, Ore., on April 28. That time converted to 1,600 would be 4:12.2, the third best in the area.

You won’t find the times of McCandless or Gardner listed in the area honor roll. We don’t list times converted from shorter or longer races. All the times listed in the honor roll can be found on athletic.net.

Postseason begins

The pursuit of state berths begins with earnest this week.

• In Idaho, the 5A, 4A, 3A, 2A and 1A state-qualifying meets are this week.

The 5A and 4A teams are in Lewiston today and Friday, the 3A District I teams are at Timberlake on Friday and Saturday and the 2A and 1A teams are at Lapwai on Friday and Saturday. State meets are next week in the Meridian area.

• In Washington, district meets are this week. The District 8 4A and 3A teams are at Spokane Falls Community today and Friday, and the District 7 2A teams are at West Valley today and Friday. Regionals meets are next week and the state meets are the week after.