TACOMA - Blaine's Cherish Morrison said she feels strange when she's at high school or at work and someone says, "Hey, that's the fastest 2A girl in the state of Washington."
Well, she'd better get used to it, because Morrison once again proved she's the top speedster in the state after she began Saturday, May 26, by winning the 100, then took the 400 title and made an individual encore performance by winning the 200, before she helped Blaine's 4x400 meter relay team win a state title while setting a new meet record.
Yes, the 2A-3A-4A Washington State Track and Field Championships, at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma, proved to be quite a day for the Borderite senior.
"It's kind of strange, because people will come up to me and say 'You're the fastest girl in 2A,'" Morrison said. "He just shoots the gun, and I go."
After winning a combined eight medals during her freshman, sophomore and junior years, Morrison added three more. Helping Blaine win the 4x400 relay gave her career gold medal No. 14, counting relays.
"I feel like I'm back," said Morrison after she won her third individual event - the 200 meters. "When I didn't win the 100 (last year), I felt like I lost it a little bit."
Morrison's winning 100 time was 12.36 seconds, her 200 time was 24.92 and she beat the record she set in the 400 in 2010 with a time of 56.09 in the one-lap race.
"I'm pretty sure that's a state record (for most gold medals), and I've been coaching 27 years," said Blaine track and field coach Mike Grambo. "It's like, I don't know what to say. It's just something that is very special."
Blaine sprints coach Jim Rasar said in the 16 events Morrison has competed during her four-year career, she's won gold 14 times.
"It's been a privilege to coach her more than anything," Rasar said. "You can have a great competitive spirit but not the ability, and you can have the ability but not a great competitive spirit. With her you get both."
Reach ANDREW LANG atandrew.lang@bellinghamherald.com or call ext. 862.
