Alec Fellows of Edmonds-Woodway High School is no stranger to first-place finishes. At the Edmonds School District Championships at Edmonds Stadium last week, Fellows placed first in four individual events. He won the long jump with a distance of 23-3.25, the triple jump with a distance of 43-8, the 200 with a time of 22.52, and the 110 hurdles with a time of 14.9; he’s also the school record holder in the 110 hurdles, long jump and triple jump.

Alec is internally driven to be the best he can be, said EWHS head track and field coach Rick Fillman. “He absolutely thrives on the challenge of putting himself up against the best athletes he can and seeing who wins.”

Last year at the Washington State Track and Field meet, Fellows placed third in the 110 hurdles, sixth in the triple jump and eighth in the long jump. With the 4A District Track and Field Championships starting this week, Fellows’ focus is on his teammates, and performing well at the meet.

“I just want to qualify first,” said Fellows, a 6-foot-2-inch junior.”I’m looking at it one meet at a time.”

Another event that Fellows is looking forward to participating is the decathlon, which includes the 100, 110 hurdles, 400, 1500, long jump, shot put, javelin, pole vault, discuss, and high jump. Because it’s not a Washington Interscholastic Athletic Association-sanctioned event, the decathlon is held separately from the state high school track and field competition. Fellows is being recruited to run the decathlon in college, and he feels he can succeed at the next level.

“It’s something I want to do in college,”Fellows said. “I just think it’s something I can excel in, and where I can be the best.”

The decathlon begins one week after the WIAA track championships, which are held on Memorial Day weekend, and the challenge will be a good one for Fellows.”Alec realizes that the only way to get better is to push and constantly test yourself,”Fillman said. “What better test than to face the best?”

Fellows’ main competition in the decathlon is Kale Schmidt, a senior from Stanwood High School. Schmidt won the decathlon last year; Fellows finished in sixth.

While Fellows wants to do well in the decathlon, he said his main goal is to continue improving. “I just want to PR (personal record) and improve on what I did last year,” he said.

With his drive and determination, it looks like he’s well on his way.

— By Michael Johnson, My Edmonds News sports columnist