Lakes' Izaic Yorks Cruises to School's Best-Ever Finish at Nike Cross Nationals

It wouldn’t be a stretch to describe Izaic Yorks as nonchalant.

After all, he has remained largely unflappable throughout winning the 3A Westside Classic cross-country title, finishing third at the state meet – and now placing fourth in the Nike Cross Nationals.

Yorks, a senior at Lakes High School, earned All-American Honors for his performance on the national stage Dec. 3 in Portland. He completed the 5-kilometer course in 15 minutes, 30 seconds, the best-ever finish by a Lakes runner at the meet.

“It was pretty cool,” he said.

Yorks said he was more satisfied with the results of the Nike race than the state meet in Pasco, where he finished behind Anthony Armstrong of Kamiakin and Nathan Weitz of Shadle Park. He and Armstrong then raced to a photo finish at the Nov. 20 Nike Border Clash in Beaverton, Ore., both finishing in 13:48.

But when the results were posted on Dec. 3, Yorks was listed three spots above Armstrong, who finished seventh.

“I’m happier about this one, definitely,” he said. “Mainly because I finally beat Anthony.”

His coach at Lakes was more effusive about his star runner’s performance.

“He took fourth in a national championship meet,” said Joe Clark, who coaches the Lancers’ cross-country team. “That is pretty amazing.”

“I think he’s as good as any athlete we’ve had in a while,” he said. “He ran really well – really, really well.”

Yorks said that he had previously run on the course at Portland Meadows, but it was muddy on race day.

“It felt really different,” he said. “I think it helped me. I am a strength runner, so I was OK with the mud.”

Clark said that while Yorks had a great senior season, “what is interesting is how well he did in the postseason.”

Some of that stemmed from competition. While Yorks broke the state cross-country meet record in Pasco, Armstrong and Weitz did, too.

"Then he raced (Weitz) at Border Clash and beat him,” Clark said. “And he and Armstrong have now raced each other four times, and have become good friends. And Izaic beat him this time, so I think it’s pretty interesting.”

Ever humble, Yorks praised his competition.

“They both ran really well,” he said.

Clark said that it isn’t easy to maintain the ability to run fast for years, “and I think that is one of the things Izaic did well – maintain his focus and his training.”

That continues now as Yorks prepares to start training for track season in the next week. He runs up to 90 miles a week, which may not be the most relaxing way to spend Christmas vacation, but he likes it that way.

“Actually, yeah, I do,” he said. “I’m already starting to get a little anxious.”

After all, several Division I colleges have shown recent interest in Yorks, including Oregon, Washington State and Wisconsin.

“It’s kind of a lot to take in,” he said.

Clark said that while Yorks wants to compete, he also wants to get a good education. He is interested in studying pre-law or physical therapy.

“He is very bright, very talented and he has a lot of options,” Clark said. “We just want to make sure that the school he finds is the right fit.

“Too often, there is a lot made out of going to a Division I school, but that may not be the right fit. It’s more important to find the right school – he’ll find the competition.”

And while Yorks said that he is “definitely planning to run,” his coach feels he has realistic expectations about his college career.

“He has said to me, ‘I don’t expect to go there and be a star; I expect to go and spend a couple of years getting better before I even have a chance.’ ”

Once Yorks’ days in orange and blue are over, it is clear that he will be missed, not only as a runner, but as an example for his peers. Clark and several of Yorks’ teammates went down to Portland to watch him run.

“It’s kind of sad, actually,” Yorks said of his final track season approaching. “I wish I had more time, but at least I have had fun doing it.”

In calling him humble and hardworking, Clark said that Yorks shot down discussion of being honored for his accomplishments at a school assembly.

“He said, ‘eh, that’s not for me.’ He loves the sport, he loves the competition and he wants to challenge himself to get to the highest level he can, but he’s not all that interested in (the fanfare).

“He wasn’t one of those can’t miss, bona fide, start recruiting him now in junior high guys,” he said. “He has made himself into what he is through hard work.”

But Yorks said he hasn’t done it alone.

“I wouldn’t have gotten as far without having a great coach and my family behind me."