SPORTS
By Neil Macdonald

Birch Bay runner wins marathon
Paul Kezes, 23, who attended Blaine High School for three years and graduated from Sehome, placed first in the 8,000 meter Seafair Torchlight Run in Seattle, July 27.
His time was 24:16 which tied the record in the annual event. He competed against approximately 2,000 runners and led the race after the first two miles.
“It’s the most relaxed I’ve ever felt in a race,” he said when presented the winner’s plaque. He declined the round-trip Southwest Airline pass and $2,000 cash prize because of his amateur status.
He will be competing in track and cross-country at Western Washington University this winter in his final year of college competition.
This past season, he attended Western State College in Gunnison, Colorado on a sports scholarship. He placed third in the nation in the 1500- meter race in both indoor and outdoor competitions in the NCAA Division II.
Previously, he attended Clackamas Community College in Oregon City, Oregon on a track scholarship.
His parents, Neil and Marienes Johnson, reside at Birch Bay Village.
Paul began his running career at Blaine High School, competing in cross-country and track. He placed 7th in state competition in the two-mile run with a time of 9:30 his junior year there.

Golf nirvana
Lynn Langley of Birch Bay aced the eighth hole at Birch Bay Golf and Country Club on July 17, smacking the ball from tee to hole in one perfect shot. Golf club head professional Grant Wilson and fellow golfer Kim Edwards were on hand to applaud the feat. .
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Golf fundraiser
Resort Semiahmoo will host the annual Big Brothers, Big Sisters fundraising golf classic this year.
Partly sponsored by the BP Cherry Point Refinery, the event will kick off at the Loomis Trail Golf Course September 16 with a pancake breakfast and golf clinic. The day ends with prizes, awards and a barbecue, after a day on the links. Businesses can sponsor a team for $1,000 or a hole for $300.
The event raises funds for the Big Brother, Big Sister mentoring program. “We rely on tournament to raise money for our one-on-one mentoring program,” said executive director Jim Boyle. “A child matched with a Big can do better in school and is less likely to use drugs and alcohol.”
To sign up for the golf classic or to become a big brother or sister call 360/671-6400 x307..

BHS coach news
One high school and three middle school coaching changes in Blaine’s athletic program were announced at the Blaine School District Board of Directors meeting on June 17.
Assistant fastpitch coach Rob Adams was named Blaine’s fastpitch head mentor. He replaces veteran head coach Mike Dodd, who is retiring after nine years at the girls softball helm. Adams is coaching Blaine Force this summer and Dodd, the newly formed Blaine Force junior nine.
The three new middle school head coaches are Webster Kurz (football), Tim Walter (fastpitch) and Todd Zimmermann (cross country).
Nate Button, who was interim head coach at Blaine in 1998-99 as a one-year leave replacement for Craig Foster, has been promoted from assistant to head wrestling coach at Ferndale High School. Button has been an assistant at Ferndale for the past three years.

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