But after laser therapy and finding a taping method that supported the injured muscle, Radosevich decided to compete.
Radosevich didn’t just finish the last race of his high school career, he nearly won. He led until the final 400 meters, eventually placing second in Class 2A.
“I’m very happy with how I was able to race that day,” Radosevich said. “If I had gone out a little faster, maybe I could have beat the kid. But it’s all good.
“You could go ‘what if’ all the time. But you can’t do that.”
Radosevich’s second-place finish was the best of any Clark County boy at the state meet. His 5,000 meter personal best of 15 minutes, 9 seconds on Oct. 6 was the fastest by any local runner this season.
For his accomplishments, Radosevich is The Columbian’s All-Region boys cross country runner of the year.
When he was younger, Radosevich focused his athletic talents on soccer. The speed and endurance that he crafted on the soccer field paid off during cross country.
He placed 22nd in state as a freshman, 12th as a sophomore and sixth as a junior. It wasn’t until spring of his junior year that he decided to forgo high school soccer and join the track and field team.
“I really wanted to make this senior year count,” Radosevich said. “I wanted to put myself out there and be known for all the colleges. It really paid off in the end, I feel.”
Radosevich wanted to make a strong final impression at the state meet. But he knew the injured abdominal muscle would make it perhaps the toughest race of his career.
“Going into the race, I was pretty scared,” Radosevich said. “I could feel it on every turn, pretty much. The new state course is pretty hilly. On the downhills, when I flexed it super hard, it hurt a lot.”
But Radosevich also believes the new rolling route at Pasco’s Sun Willows Golf Course helped him endure the pain.
“State is a hard course mentally,” he said. “You can’t go off into your happy place. You have to be focused every second because it’s either an uphill or downhill. Just keeping my mind off the pain helped.”
Countless T-shirts worn by runners have some variation of the slogan ‘Pain is temporary, pride is forever.’
In his final high school race, Radosevich embodied that perfectly.
The Rest of the All-Region Team
David Carrion, Seton Catholic
Junior placed eighth in 1A at state meet. Won five of his nine races this season, including district championship.
Gabriel Dinnel, Washougal
Senior placed third in 2A race to help Panthers finish second, the program’s best state finish. Ran 5K personal best of 15:24 on Oct. 12.
Sam Geiger, Camas
Sophomore ran a personal best of 15:42 to place 11th at state. Third at bi-district Westside Classic.
Jackson Lyne, Camas
Senior was district runner-up for second straight year. Ran a PR of 15:22 on Oct. 6. Key leader for team that placed third in state.
Daniel Maton, Camas
University of Washington-bound senior repeated as 4A district champion. Placed fourth at bi-district Westside Classic.
Shun Yamaguchi, Mountain View
Senior was district champion and highest local finisher in 3A race at state meet, 35th.
