Haas Makes Big Strides as a Runner

Last year, Poly High track Coach Scott King knew Shannon Haas had a lot of potential. The trouble was, he couldn’t get Haas to run.

“He was shy about coming out for the team,” King said last week. “I knew he had a lot of talent but I couldn’t develop it unless he wanted to run. I kept hoping he would come out this year.”

King got his wish this season. Haas is on the team and has developed into one of the Valley area’s fastest 400-meter sprinters.

Last week, Haas won the first 400 of his life (49.0) at the East Valley League prelims. On Wednesday, the junior came within an inch of winning the title in the event at the East Valley League finals at Birmingham High.

Wayne Williams of Fairfax and Haas were neck and neck as they crossed the finish line. The race originally was called a tie but after reviewing a videotape, officials declared Williams the winner. Both runners were given identical times of 49.2.

“I’m still learning how to run the race so I think I can improve a lot before the season is over,” Haas said. “I’d like to break the school record of 48.4.”

Said King: “I think he’ll run in the low 48s in the next few weeks. His improvement has been phenomenal this year.”

So has Poly’s.

The Parrots’ boys team produced 24 qualifiers for next week’s City Section quarterfinals. Fairfax, led by Williams’ double victory in the 400 and 800 (1:58.8), was next with nine qualifiers.

Poly, which won its third straight league dual-meet title this season, won five individual events and both relays.

Haas led off the victorious 400 (44.0) and 1,600 (3:31.3) relay teams and also placed fourth (23.9) in the 200. Teammate Steve Espo won the 100 (11.1), placed third in the 400 (49.8) and anchored both winning relays.

Mike Ross added victories in the 110 high hurdles (15.7) and the 300 intermediate hurdles (42.9), Jeff La Monica won the long jump with a wind-aided 21-0 effort and LaFarick Jacobs won the high jump (6-2) to complete Poly’s list of winners.