1994

Lee Cave

Lee graduated from Wenatchee H.S. in 1946 and participated in football and track & field.  He graduated from Washington State University in 1953 with a major in Physical Education.  While at WSU he was part of a record-setting 2-mile relay team at the Drake Relays.  He coached and taught at Nespelem High School, White Swan High School, Hudson’s Bay High School, Fort Vancouver High School, and Columbia River High School.  Lee coached cross country from 1963-1982 and took 14-boys’ teams and 2 girls’ teams to State.  His boys’ team won State titles in 1964 and 1970.  His individual cross country champions were Roscoe Divine (l963) and Jim Ojala (l978).

 

Gary Swanson

Gary graduated from Kelso H.S. in l960 and played football and competed in track & field.  He graduated from Western Washington University in l964, with a degree in History.  He took over the cross country program at Castle Rock H.S. and qualified a team for State his first year.  His teams won the Tri-County title nearly every year he coached.  His boys’ teams made 15-consecutive State appearances from l971-85, 9-times placing in the top-4.  His l982 boys’ team won the State ‘A’ title with a record low score of 38-points.  Gary’s girls’ teams participated in the state meet 3-years.  Gary was also active in the Junior Olympics running program in the Castle Rock area.

Max Jensen

Max graduated from Pullman HS in 1958 and ran track. He graduated from WSU in 1963.

He started teaching at Richland HS and coaching track. A little later he started the cross country program to get his kids in shape for track.  Max coached at Richland from 1966-1972.  His teams placed in the top 7 every year with state champs teams in 1969, 1970, & 1971.  He later coached at Spokane Community College. Max’s 3 daughters and a son all ran track and cross country.

Larry Hitchcock

Larry grew up in Vancouver and graduated from Hudson’s Bay HS in l956.  He participated in football,basketball, baseball, and track.  He went to Clark CC and graduated from Western Washington College in 1964.  He taught at Newport High School and coached cross country and track.  His boys won a string of 102 consecutive dual cross country meets and his girls’ team won the first “unofficial” state cross country title in 1974.  His boys won 7 KingCo League titles and went to state 8 times, 5 times placing in the top 10.  After his retirement, Larry officiated at the State Cross Country and Track Championships.

Tracy Walters

Tracy started the Cross Country program at Rogers (in Spokane) and won state championships in 1963 and 1965.  He coached Gerry Lindgren to individual state championships in 1962 and 1963.  He also coached at San Jose State.

Herm Caviness

 

 

 

 

 

Herm graduated from Coulee Dam H.S. in 1951 and Eastern Washington University in 1955.  He coached cross Country at Ferris H.S. from 1969-1982 and took boys teams to state 8 times in his 14 years at the helm of the Saxon program. His teams always placing in the top 4 at the state meet.  He coached the Ferris girls’ team only one year in 1981, and they placed 2nd at State Meet.  He had 11 individuals finish in the top 10 places at State.  Herm coached Rick Riley to a National 2 mile record at Ferris in 1966.  After retiring from coaching cross country, Herm spent many years coaching the pole vault to high school athletes in the Spokane area.

Barry Savage

Barry coached at Renton from 1958-86.  He had 20 boys state qualifying teams and 8 girls teams that qualified for state as well.  His boys won state in 1969.

Larry Eason

Larry coached at Snohomish from l965-87.  He had 12 state qualifying teams, including a second place in 1968.

Len Long

Len was born in Colorado, moved to Spokane, and ran with Gerry Lindgren for coach Tracy Walters at Rogers H.S. In l966, Len placed 4th in the State Cross Country Meet.  He ran for Whitworth College and twice earned All-American honors.

He coached cross country at North Central H.S. from 1968-1986.  His teams qualified for state 9 times, winning the Championship in 1977 and placing 2nd 4 times.  Len coached Jim Coombs to an individual State title in 1980.  His teams won a string of 26-Greater Spokane League dual meets against some of the legendary coaches in the sport. Len continues to volunteer with North Central.