MOUNT VERNON — For two years, Mount Vernon cross country coach Jess del Bosque told Kayla Johnston she may have a bright future in cross country.

Now that the future’s here, it seems like del Bosque was right.

Johnston switched her fall sport from soccer to cross country this year, and the junior has won the Bulldogs’ first three Northwest Conference meets.

In a four-team meet in Deming that kicked off the reason, Johnston finished the 2.97-mile course in 21 minutes, 1 second. A week later, she finished a five-kilometer course in Blaine in 21:23. Just last week, she finished another 5K course, this one at home, in 20:41.

Johnston isn’t a complete novice when it comes to distance running, having tackled distances as long as two miles while running for the Bulldogs’ track and field team.

But she grew up playing and enjoying soccer, so it took some persuasion from del Bosque and others to get her believe that cross country would be a good — and enjoyable — fit.

“It took a while, because soccer is my main sport,” Johnston said. “But I had a successful track year (last season) and I liked that.”

Del Bosque said he spotted Johnston’s distance-running potential early.

“She did track for me her freshman year. At that time I said, ‘Kayla, you’re in the wrong sport,’” he said. “There was potential. She worked hard, and improved her times. I told her she could go to state.”

Johnston decided to give cross country a try, running four or five times a week over the summer and getting tips from track and field teammates who also ran cross country such as Kathryn Benson and Tessa Murray.

“They’ve been so great,” Johnston said. “They help me out and tell me how to run (a course). They fill me in on the knowledge.”

Among the things Johnston had to learn: how pace yourself is different in a cross country race than a track and field event.

“What surprised me is that you do it slower than a mile or two-mile. It’s not at a race pace,” she said.

Johnston soon discovered several things she enjoyed about the sport, such as the support of the team around her.

“I like the team aspect,” she said. “Even though it’s an individual sport, everyone supports everyone else.”

Del Bosque said Johnston’s success comes from her work ethic and her natural talent.

“She doesn’t shrink away from hard practices. A lot of kids go through motions. But if you say to her you want something done in a certain amount of time, she’ll do that, or faster,” he said.

Johnston hopes to make it to the state meet later this fall.

Until then, she will continue to enjoy her newfound sport.

“I like how you feel after you’ve run. You feel so good about herself,” she said.

Trevor Pyle can be reached at 360-416-2156 or by e-mail at