Shadle Park Senior Becks Bird to Lead State XC Run

The record-breaking runner aims for a podium finish at the state meet following a challenging summer for his family.

Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Running

Shadle Park Senior Becks Bird to Lead State XC Run

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Shadle Park senior Becks Bird is preparing to lead his cross country team at the upcoming state meet in Pasco. Despite losing his family home in the Spokane Complex fires two months ago, Bird has maintained his training regimen to improve on last year's fifth-place state finish.

Why it matters

Bird currently ranks as the fourth-best runner statewide among 3A competitors and hopes to elevate his performance at the championship. His leadership in organizing summer training sessions has become a critical factor in the team's ongoing effort to qualify for the state meet.

Becks Bird holds the Shadle Park school record of 14 minutes and 54.1 seconds for a 3.1-mile race. He currently ranks third in the Greater Spokane League and fourth statewide among 3A runners.

The players

Becks Bird

He is a senior at Shadle Park and the third-ranked runner in the Greater Spokane League.

Shadle Park High School

This is the Spokane secondary school where Bird serves as a team leader for the cross country program.

The details

Bird rallied his teammates through a rigorous summer of training and employs strategic race tactics to remain competitive against teams favored on paper. The team aims to sustain this momentum through the District 6 meet in Walla Walla before arriving at the Sun Willows Golf Course.

Two months ago the Bird family home was lost in the Spokane Complex fires.
The District 6 cross country meet will take place in two weeks.
The state cross country meet is scheduled for three weeks from now.

Season Trajectory

Bird’s performance directly impacts the playoff potential for the Shadle Park cross country team as they push toward qualifying for the state championships. His ranking positions him as a primary contender to challenge current state-level leaders.

Bird enters the championship stretch holding a 3.1-mile school record of 14 minutes and 54.1 seconds. He will compete at the District 6 meet in two weeks before attempting to improve his previous state fifth-place finish at Sun Willows Golf Course.

The takeaway

Bird continues to demonstrate resilience by maintaining his elite athletic standing despite significant personal hardship. His focus remains on translating his consistent league rankings into a stronger podium performance at the upcoming state meet.