PASCO — In the 100M dash state finals, Dak Kongela exhibited the epitome of taking advantage of opportunity.

After missing the cut by one place at the Narrows League meet May 13, Kongela’s 100M dash days seemed to be over. Then at the district meet May 20, two 100M contestants were scratched from the lineup and Kongela — along with CK’s Danny VanDatta — were surprised with a second chance in the race and both qualified onto state.

In Pasco May 27, it was the 100M field that was surprised by the man in gold in lane No. 8.

“I was way out in lane eight and I know that guys in lane eight don’t usually win, but I believed I would do my best,” Kongela said, noting that his focus heading into the state tournament was centered around winning the triple jump, but the night before the finals, thoughts of the 100M dash kept coming to mind. “Then all of a sudden this little bit of desire to win came in, and I said, ‘God, if you let me win the 100 meter then I’ll give you the credit.’”

By the lean of his chest, Kongela’s prayers were answered as he took the state 100M title with a time of 10.95 seconds.

“I was talking to Dak Friday night and he asked, ‘What is it like?’ and I said, ‘It’s a rat race,’” said NK coach Kaelea Makaiwi-Barreith. “I said, ‘Pretty much, it’s anybody’s day to be state champ, if you want it you can have it.’”

Kongela wanted it, turning in one of his top times of the season, but as he crossed the finish line, he wasn’t sure that he had done it, despite his coaches and team going nuts and giving him a No. 1 sign. It wasn’t until VanDatta shook his hand and congratulated him that Kongela realized, coach Makaiwi-Barreith said.

“Then his reaction was priceless,” she added, noting a humble look of surprised pride in the senior sprinter. “That was the icing on the cake, we had a pretty amazing season … it’s funny that we preach to them that only through true team success can individuals succeed.”

Nearly all of NK’s athletes who competed at the state meet succeeded with individual capstone performances to the team-driven season.

North’s 4x100M relay team sprinted to its best performance on the year, breaking the 43 second barrier, taking sixth place with a time of 42.90 seconds.

Kongela also turned a personal best length in the triple jump with a leap of 45-1.25.

And though Garren Dukes, North’s top pole vaulter, did not reach a personal best height, the junior proved his standing as one of the upper echelon vaulters in the state.

“I know he was nervous because we talked about it the night before,” Coach Makaiwi-Barreith noted. “I said to him ‘Garren you are one of the top 16 vaulters in the state,’ I just wanted to put it in perspective for him and he sat back said ‘You know, I’m really proud of myself.’”