Jason Fayant Mead Year: Senior Sport: Cross Country

The news reached Jason Fayant 2 hours before last Saturday’s SunFair meet in Yakima.

The Ferris boys, with defending State AAA champion Isaac Hawkins, had passed on the state’s largest cross country invitational.

The importance became clear later in the day, after Fayant’s Mead Panthers had won the first six flights. That meant a Fayant win in the seventh flight - against each competing schools’ No. 1 runners - would give Mead a perfect score.

Fayant complied, finishing the 3-mile course in 15 minutes, 23 seconds - 6 seconds ahead of Shadle Park’s Casey Perry. Fayant acknowledges Hawkins’ absence, but concedes nothing.

“He’s definitely a good runner, there’s no doubt about that,” Fayant said. “But it’s still a race and I would have given it my best shot.

“It’s really no secret. You just have to hang with him for the first 2 miles and hope speed comes into play.”

Fayant finished third last year in leading Mead to its eighth consecutive State AAA title. The Panthers are ranked third nationally this year.

“(Fayant is) a young, loaded-with-talent guy who’ll get better when he goes to college,” said Mead coach Pat Tyson.

Fayant and his brother Todd began running together as tykes. Todd won SunFair’s sophomore division.

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