Deal Comes Down With Flu, Places 16th

WAITSBURG - An unexpected bout of the flu hit WP's star runner Seth Deal at the state competition on Saturday in Pasco and Deal placed 16th of 140 boys in the 5,000-meter race.

Coach Joanna Lanning said Deal didn't know he was going to be ill and ended up vomiting and dry heaving during Saturday's race throughout the whole course. He finished in 17:08.

"It's just amazing what he accomplished," Lanning said. "That's part of the way life is sometimes."

Lucas Graham from Northwest Christian-Lacey placed first in the race with a time of 16:17.

WP's other state runner was E.J. Meserve, who placed 5...