Kent-Meridian’s Derrick Daigre determined to reclaim state crown | Track and Field

Derrick Daigre felt the burning twinge in his hamstrings, but chose to ignore what his body was telling him.

Take a seat at the state meet?

Daigre?

Not happening.

Instead of holding back, the Kent-Meridian 800-meter star pushed on during that late May day at Mount Tahoma High in Tacoma. While Daigre’s aching hamstrings told him to quit, his desire to repeat as state champion was simply too great.

“I knew I was hurt going in (to the finals),” said Daigre, who will run next season on scholarship at the University of Washington. “My goal that day was to qualify for the finals no matter what.”

Daigre qualified, but was a shell of himself once the final event rolled around. A lanky 6-foot-5 158-pounder who’s all knees and elbows, the Kent-Meridian star had to shift down a gear for the championship event. Unable to compete in his usual style, Daigre succumbed to the shooting pain in his hamstrings, which resulted in an eighth-place finish with a time of 2:01.87.

For Daigre, injury or no injury, the performance was unacceptable.

Now healthy, the senior has designs of finishing his prep career a bit differently this spring.

“It was extremely frustrating to work all season (last year) and at the final race to let it all go,” he said.

Yet, the injury that essentially stole Daigre’s opportunity to repeat as the state champion in the 800, an event he won as a sophomore with a time of 1:52.57, is now fueling his motivation for his senior season.

“This year, I want to show everyone that I am still me,” he said. “I am still fast. I don’t want people to have doubts.”

It’s hard to doubt a kid like Daigre, whose aerodynamic frame gives the impression that he was born to run. In 2009, he became Kent-Meridian’s first state champion in any sport since 2006 by winning the 800-meter dash. His time of 1:52.57 not only earned him the top spot on the podium, but also was a personal record.

Shortly after the performance, the UW-bound senior nearly duplicated the feat in the 400, taking second with a time of 49.05.

This spring, Daigre wants it all back.

And then some.

“I want to set a state record (in the 800),” he said. “I want to run at least a 1:49 or 1:48 in the 800 and I want to run a high 47 in the 400.”

Kent-Meridian coach Ernie Ammons believes Daigre can get it done, too.

The sixth-year coach has been along for the ride with Daigre. He has watched his pupil grow from a relatively quiet runner three years ago to a captain and team leader this spring. Add it up, and Daigre has all the components to not just win another state title, but do so in extraordinary fashion.

“What’s made the transition for Derrick is his self confidence. He believes in himself,” Ammons said. “He knows that when he steps to the line, he’s going to win. You don’t see a lot of kids at his level like that. To have that self confidence … he’s not afraid of anybody.”

Along the way, Daigre has turned others into believers as well.

“Wow! He’s jut an amazing talent,” said Kentwood coach Steve Roche. “You don’t see kids of his size that often. The guy can wheel.”

Kentlake coach Jim Hewson agrees.

“Amazing. He’s just amazing,” Hewson said.

Amazing enough that the Royals will lean on their lean sprinting machine in their quest for repeating as league champions. Last spring, Kent-Meridian captured its first SPSL North title on the oval since 2001. With a healthy Daigre in fold, the Royals are pegged as the preseason favorites to do it all again. And for good reason. Because behind Daigre, Kent-Meridian returns a bevy of talent, including David Jones (sprints), Abu Kamara (hurdles), Brandon Harris (long jump, high jump) and Jordan Thompson Walker (800).

But it all starts with Daigre.

And health pending, he’s not about to be slowed down this spring.

“With all the work I’ve been doing, I want to end my high school career with a bang,” he said.