East Valley’s Kopczynski, Stevens will battle for title

Andrew Walker is in a win-win situation this week.

The East Valley boys cross country coach will take two of the runners to state when the 2A meet unfolds Saturday at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco.

If Scott Kopczynski wins, Walker wins. If Chad Stevens wins, Walker wins. Seemingly, the coach can’t lose.

Walker and Kopczynski, who placed second and fourth, respectively, at state last year, are considered the favorites to win the state championship.

“Unless somebody on the west side has made some huge strides, they’ll likely be unchallenged,” Walker said. “I’ve been thinking they’re head and shoulders above the rest of the state.”

Walker isn’t rooting for one runner over the other. He’s hoping both race as well as they can.

“At a certain point in the race it will be every man for himself,” Walker said. “If East Valley goes 1-2 in the race we don’t care theoretically who wins, but we know that they care.”

Kopczynski is planning to win. So is Stevens.

“I want to redeem myself from last year,” Kopczynski said. “I didn’t have my best race on that day.”

“I’ve put in enough work, I know that,” Stevens said.

An injury slowed Stevens early in the season, but he’s closed the gap in recent weeks.

The duo plan on working off each other in the race – as they have since they began running together in the eighth grade.

“Scott has had a step on Chad all year, but you never know,” Walker said. “They’ve worked together and beat guys who are better than them. They team up on guys and share the work. That will be the plan Saturday.”

Both feel like they’ll be at their best Saturday.

“We’re definitely getting close to our peaks,” Kopczynski said. “I expect to race as well as I have all year. I need to run with confidence, knowing that when I make my move I can hold it.”

Stevens also has a strategy.

“The deciding factor for me is how much I want it and how much heart I have, and how much I’m willing to push through,” Stevens said.

They like the fact that state is on a golf course.

“Some guys say it’s cheating, that it’s not a cross country course,” Stevens said. “But I love it. I hate a course with loops. This course has no loops. You never take the same turn twice.”

The last 400 meters includes a small hill followed by a downhill and then a flat stretch to the finish line.

“Last year I started my kick going up the final hill,” Stevens said. “That’s when I caught the guy who was in second.”

Walker expects a tightly contested race.

“Scott has to be the favorite based on his season,” Walker said. “But I wouldn’t count Chad out by any means. It’s going to be close.”