Fabulous Foss Frosh 400 Phenom

Yesterday, at the Narrows League Championships at South Kitsap, we saw something historic. Foss High School's outstanding freshman sprinter, Marcus Chambers, got off to a slow start in the 100m. Although he was the favorite entering the race, he had what he surely thought was a sub-par performance in that race, finishing 5th.

That's not the story. The story is how he responded in the 400m. From the gun, he took control of the race and did not relinquish it. His final time of 48.84 is remarkable and historic, given his age.

This has been a very good year for freshman boys running the 400m, with both Ezekiel McNeal of Federal Way and Calvin Chandler of Bellarmine Prep running excellent age-group times...and their seasons are not over yet.

The following is our state's all-time list of male freshman 400m runners, provided by John Sells of Shelton, publisher of the Washington Track Annual:

1. Leyland Gayles (Kennedy) '92 48.53s
2. Phillip Carr (Decatur JH, Federal Way) '98 48.82
3. Marcus Chambers (Foss) '10 48.84
4. Craig Everhart (Fairview JH, Bremerton) '99 49.59
5. Ezekiel McNeal (Federal Way) '10 49.69
6. Brad Kendrick (Tacoma JH) '79 49.84
6. Dana Harper (Joel Ferris) '94 49.84
8. Isaac Teichgrab (Stanwood) '05 49.89
9. Charles Ladd (Aberdeen) '92 49.8
10. Michael Pope (Hudtloff JH, Lakewood) '85 50.0
10. Josh Rogge (Chelan) '95 50.0
12. Carson Schmiett (Northshore JH, Bothell) '00 50.39
13. Maurice McNeal (Tacoma Baptist) '07 50.42
14. Dan Tyson (Ballard) '03 50.43
14. Calvin Chandler (Bellarmine Prep) '10 50.43

Test, Test.