Старая статейка о Сац (93 год!) во времена когда она была спортсменкой Two New Arrivals Lifting L.W. -- Two Talented Kangs Lead Girls
Lake Washington High School's Satsuki Mitchell lay on a high-jump mat in the farthest corner of Juanita High's stadium, alone with her thoughts and the music from her Walkman headphones as she waited before warmups for the 800-meter relay.
Dozens of people milled around at other spots throughout the stadium, but Mitchell stood alone.
As far away from any of them as she was from the packs she outdistanced for wins in the 100-meter hurdles, 300 hurdles, high jump and her share of the 800 relay victory in yesterday's KingCo Conference girls track victory over Redmond and Juanita.
And looking as out of place in her corner as she looked wearing Lake Washington purple.
"It hasn't been that bad," said Mitchell, a junior who transferred from Mercer Island this school year. "I was amazed I could fit in so easy.
"I miss a lot of the people there (at M.I.), but I've made new friends here. It's not that bad."
Particularly good yesterday as the defending state heptathlon champion won every event she entered - again - against one of KingCo's strongest teams, Redmond. Lake Washington beat the Mustangs 93-65. Juanita finished with 20 points.
The Kangaroos' other prime-time newcomer, sophomore Marla Spencer-Washburn won all three events she entered - again - including a 1-minute flat victory in her specialty, the 400, despite a shoelace coming untied halfway through the race.
"No excuses, though," she said.
Never.
No excuses for either Mitchell or Spencer-Washburn. That's a luxury neither can afford. Not with the high expectations that preceded their arrivals this season.
Mitchell was one of KingCo's top multi-event athletes last year, and Spencer-Washburn posted 400 times in junior-high meets that would have placed her in the top five at the Class AAA state high-school meet.
"It's difficult mentally," Spencer-Washburn said of making the adjustment to high school. "Sometimes you're expected to win. I've never had that kind of pressure before.
"Sometimes they (teammates and fans) think you're invincible. They say, `You can't lose.' I have to tell them, `Yes, I can lose.' "
So far, that remains to be seen. And so the pressure remains, too.
"That's what's hard about being good," L.W. girls coach Roger Hansen said.
Despite often being 10 and 20 yards ahead of opponents by the end of short races.
"It takes a special kid that can do it," Hansen said. "In this day and age, that's not the average kid who can focus and compete at that high level. We feel really fortunate to have kids like that."
Mitchell's own expectations provide more pressure than anyone else's could.
"You have to keep saying, `I want a better time,' " she said. "People on the team say, `You won the race!' But that doesn't work (for me) anymore. It worked in ninth and 10th grade."
What has worked for Mitchell is the coaching staff at the Kirkland school.
"We have a lot more coaches that seem to know a lot, and they've really helped me improve," she said. "I've opened with better times this year. And I've actually been coached on my events."
With fewer coaches, Mercer Island had one assistant that coached all six events from the 100 to the 800 and the hurdles.
But, she said, "I do regret moving. I was more involved in school activites. I'm a little more reluctant to go to football games or basketball games because the teams are so bad."
That shouldn't be a problem in track this spring.
http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive....1695045
вот это находка! а ты уверена, что это та самая Сацуки?
Значит, Дэнни предпочитает спортсменок 
