PORT TOWNSEND — When Ryan Clarke finally arrived home from Pasco on Sunday evening, he went for a run.
Because that’s how long-distance runners party.
Clarke had plenty to celebrate, having won the Class 1A state championship at Sun Willows Golf Course on Saturday afternoon.
He ran the 5-kilometer course in 15 minutes, 37.4 seconds, beating defending state champion Graham Peet of Northwest by over four seconds.
After a fifth-place finish at last years state championships, Clarke entered Saturday’s meet ranked just outside of the top five.
So Clarke stuck with the top runners.
“There was a group of six really strong guys this year, including the defending champion Graham Peet,” Clarke said Monday.
“He set a solid pace, and I just stuck with the pack.
“With three-fourths of mile left, I just made my move.”
Clarke said he fell off the pace around the second mile, but made that up and rejoined the top runners.
“Then I made that move and somehow, miraculously, I felt good and was able to keep it up,” Clarke said.
“My legs were completely shot, but they’re supposed to be, right?”
He maintained his lead and became a state champion.
“Pretty amazing,” Clarke said. “It’s what I had been training for this year and every year.
“It all came together and worked out.”
Clarke is Port Townsend’s first state champion since Bereket Piatt and Habtamu Rubio placed first and second, respectively, in 2009, and the school’s third boys champion in the past 10 years, joining Piatt and Quinton Decker, who won in 2008.
Clarke’s time Saturday was a personal record, beating his previous best of 16:00.88 by more than 23 seconds.
Of course, more running is in Clarke’s future.
He is now training to run at Border Clash 16 on Sunday, Nov. 23.
The event, hosted by Nike at its headquarters in Beaverton, Ore., features the top 40 runners from Washington and Oregon.
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Sports Editor Lee Horton can be reached at 360-417-3525 or at lhorton@peninsuladailynews.com.
