Mead Mania - The Golden Era Of Prep Distance Running In Washington - Part 1

By Ed Bagley

When you live through a time in history when an athletic event arguably becomes one of the greatest in history, it is easy to remember. In that moment, time stands still. An etching takes place in my mind and spirit that can never be erased.

So it was with the Golden Era of prep distance running in Washington State.


Mead High School in Western Washington won 9 straight state cross-country titles and 12 in a 15-year run from 1988 to 2002. In the three years after its first 9 titles, Mead was state runner-up twice, finished 3rd in 1999, and then won 3 more consecutive state titles.

Mead competes in the Greater Spokane League (GSL) which has compiled an incredible record competing in the Washington State 4-A (large school) championships.

Four of the first 5 titles—and 6 of the first 10—were won by Greater Spokane League schools when the state meet began as an invitational in 1959. Since 1959, 7 of the 11 league teams have won state titles and 2 more have been runner-up.

Mead was the biggest diamond in a cluster of precious stones, having won 13 state titles and been runner-up 7 times in 29 years. Ferris High School has won 6 titles and been runner-up 4 times. University High School has claimed 3 titles and 3 runner-up finishes.

Shadle Park has 3 titles, Rogers of Spokane has 2 and North Central and Lewis & Clark have 1 each.

Greater Spokane League teams have dominated cross-country in Washington State by winning 29 titles (60%) and recording 25 runner-up finishes (52%) in the last 29 years.

A GSL team has won the state title for the last 19 consecutive seasons. Ferris has won the last 4 consecutive titles but has more running to do to match Mead's record of 9 straight titles and a total of 12 in 15 years.

The accomplishment becomes more significant when you realize that Washington is the 14th most populous state in the nation with 6.5 million residents. It is not like Wyoming with a total of 500,000 residents.

(Editor's Note: This is Part 1 of a 4-Part Series on Mead High School's running success.)

Ed Bagley is the Author of Ed Bagley's Blog which he Publishes with Original Articles on Current and Past Events with Analysis and Commentary on Movie Reviews, Sports, Lessons in Life, News and Comment, Jobs and Careers, and Internet Marketing that are intended to Delight, Inform, Educate and Motivate You the Reader. Visit Ed at . . . http://www.edbagleyblog.com
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