Nothing Complex For Becker Wildcats’ Defending State Champ Has Simple Formula For Racing
To Mt. Spokane’s Tom Becker, distance running is simple in its essence. Ignore the pain, run with confidence and success will follow.
Becker, has been able to do both, resulting in his state cross country championship last fall and mile championship in the spring.
The Mt. Spokane senior begins defense of the cross country title with regional competition Saturday at Yakima’s Franklin Park.
“I want to be state champion and qualify for the Foot Locker nationals,” Becker said. “That’s just like the pinnacle of high school running.”
Four teams plus the top 20 individuals in 4A boys and girls races and two teams plus the top 10 individuals in 3A boys and girls races will qualify for state in races beginning at 11 a.m.
Becker is the favored individual in the 4A race.
It wasn’t always thus.
“In the seventh and eighth grade, I got creamed by a lot of guys,” said Becker, who began running with his father in third grade.
As a freshman, Mead coach Pat Tyson filled Becker’s head with ideas of becoming a state champion and going to the University of Oregon.
“I don’t know, I’ve kind of gone with it,” said Becker. “I think it just grows inside of you.”
He ran some varsity cross country as a sophomore and qualified for regionals in track.
Then, Mt. Spokane High opened and Becker made the move to the new school along with coach Craig Deitz. Under Deitz, he has increased his mileage and gotten stronger.
Last fall, after finishing second at regionals, Becker reversed the decision to capture the Wildcats’ first state championship.
“Regional wasn’t my most important meet,” he said. “I didn’t care if I won or not, I just wanted to run a good race.”
A terrible spring, during which he said he lost focus for several reasons, including the new GSL track meet format, gave way to a glorious finish.
“It seems like there were a lot of challenges that would test a person’s maturity,” said Deitz. “You deal with them and grow or use it as an excuse. Tommy’s done a real good job of choosing.”
Becker sprinted to a state victory in the 1,600 meters and finished second in the 3,200 after fourth-place regional efforts.
He said he’s approaching Saturday’s regional race the same as state and going for it with gusto.
But high school is a small part of the big picture. Becker’s long-range dreams are typical. His first goal is to defeat 3A runner Adam Tenforde of Hanford at the Foot Locker regionals in December and qualify for nationals.
He wants to run at Stanford for a national championship team, become an All-American and eventually qualify for the Olympics to run against the Kenyans.
“You see it in certain individuals,” said Deitz. “Whether it is Frisbee football or any game, he just likes to compete.”
Which brings us back to Becker’s basic premises.
One, deal with pain. Becker, like all young runners, had to get over the initial fears of deep oxygen debt and total hurt.
“When you realize you’re going to put yourself in pain and put it aside,” he said, “that’s when you really find your potential.”
Two, run with confidence. Becker said he does not fear running against anybody. Rather, he views it as an opportunity and wants to take advantage of any opportunity he can.
“I never have lacked for confidence,” the affable runner said, joking, “I’m a conceited little puke.”
Deitz sees it less as conceit and more as maturity.
“We have a lot of athletes here with real healthy perspectives,” he said. “Tommy is a positive character in the building, not arrogant. You need a strong heart to compete, also a healthy heart to exist.”
Tom Becker, Mt. Spokane’s two-time state champion, is proof on both counts.
Region IV cross country Saturday at Franklin Park in Yakima 3A girls, 11 a.m. Returning champion: East Valley-Spokane Other teams to watch: Selah, WV-Yakima, Hanford. Top individuals: Melanie Frostad, Melissa Frostad, Korinda Godwin, EV; Sarah Becker, Selah; Sarah Connell, WV-Yakima. At stake: Two teams and 10 individuals qualify for state. 4A girls, 11:30 a.m. Returning champion: Eisenhower. Other teams to watch: Shadle Park, Gonzaga Prep, University, Mead and Lewis and Clark. Top individuals: Angela Talaries, Eisenhower; Jamie Rosenquist, LC, Carly Barnes, Adrienne Isgrigg, Gonzaga; Lanaia Jones, Erin Krogel, Chelsey Latendresse, Shadle Park; Amy Toliver, Annie McCabe, Mead; Jill Johnson, Ferris. At stake: Four teams and 20 individuals qualify for state 3A boys, noon Returning champion: WV-Yakima, third in state. Others to watch: East Valley-Spokane Top individuals: Adam Tenforde, Hanford; Jared Christianson, Aaron Mathias, WV-Yakima; Sean McLachlan, WV-Spokane; Jim Marlow, Ryan Coordes, EV-Spokane. At stake: Two teams and 10 individuals qualify for state. 4A boys, 12:30 p.m. Returning champion: University Others to watch: Mead, Lewis and Clark, Ferris, Eisenhower, Mt. Spokane. Top individuals: Tom Becker, Mt. Spokane; Kris Martin, Ian Johnson, University; Tim Brown, Kennewick; Matt Topping, Kamiakin; Tyson Magney, Andrew Ice, Ferris; Joe Neuman, LC; Ryan Craig, Chris Olinger, Rogers; Michael Kiter, Shadle Park. At stake: 4 teams and 20 individuals qualify for state.