Shorewood runner wins district cross country title
Eli Graves overcame knee pain to break the meet record and lead his team to a championship victory.
By Eric Collins ·
Shorewood cross country runner Eli Graves won the District 1 3A Boys Championship on Oct. 31 at Lakewood High School in Arlington. He finished in 15:03.8 to claim the individual title. His performance helped the Stormrays secure the team championship. Shorewood accumulated 55 points to defeat Edmonds-Woodway, Mountlake Terrace, and Shorecrest.
Graves faced uncertainty before the race. He had dealt with knee issues for several days. Teammates watched from inside the stadium about an hour before the start. One runner told his group that Graves would not compete. The news spread quickly among rival schools. Many expected the absence of the favorite to alter the race results significantly.
The reports of his absence proved incorrect. Graves decided to run after feeling better during warmups. He performed stretches the day before with coaching staff. He completed drills on Saturday morning. His physical condition improved enough for him to take his place on the starting line. He crossed the finish line well ahead of the field.
His time of 15:03.8 broke the previous meet record. The old mark was 15:04.3, set by Redmond’s Zach Leader in 2024. Graves noted that he felt some pain during the race. His stomach felt bad, and his legs did not feel their best. He ran about 27 seconds slower than his personal best of 14:36.9 from three weeks earlier.
Sophomore teammate Kellan Roberts finished second in 15:29.3. Roberts said the team remained confident even if Graves had dropped out. He prepared to take on a larger role if needed. The team strategy involved assessing Graves’ condition on race day. Coach Joel Reese said Graves is mentally strong and prepared. Reese stated that the coaching staff expected a strong effort once Graves stepped on the line.
Shorewood placed second behind Mercer Island at the State Championships last year. Graves finished 20th overall at that event. This season, the team has maintained a high level of performance. Graves and Roberts finished 1-2 in the district race. The rest of the seven runners placed in the top 35. The team hopes to improve on last year’s state placement.
Graves credits consistency and staying healthy for his improvement. He did not make major changes to his training over the offseason. He placed third in the 1600 and 3200 at the State Track & Field Championships in late May. This cross country season, he has won eight of nine races. His only loss was a fifth-place finish at the Nike Bob Firman Invitational on Sept. 26.
The team heads to the State Championships in Pasco next week. They aim for a team title and individual success. Graves plans to focus on running his own race. He feels ready to compete. The Stormrays have shown strong depth and determination throughout the season.
