State Qualifying Races Have Different Format
Wednesday’s district cross country meets at Hangman Valley Golf Course begin with the Class B girls and boys races.
OOPS! Almost forgot that these are no ordinary district cross country races.
First of all, disregard that “Wednesday” business. The meet has been shifted to Saturday at Hangman to accommodate the Big Nine Conference.
That’s right, the Big Nine has agreed to pool its state berths with the Greater Spokane League. The AAA race, therefore, isn’t a district event at all. Call it a regional.
Also, after four years of having their own races, Class B runners are back to competing against Class A. The A/B consolidation means six races will occur rather than eight. (As in the past, District 9-B from the southeast competes with District 7-B.)
Finally, to mirror the state meet, all girls races will be run before boys races. In the past, district races alternated.
At stake are these state berths: Class AAA three teams and any individual in the top 15; Class AA - one team and any individual in the top five; Class A/B - same as AAA.
A/B girls, 11:30 a.m.: Team favorites: Chewelah, Newport, Colfax, Lakeside. Individual favorites: Jaime Stone, Deer Park; Lindsey McElroy, Lakeside; Katie Kneeshaw and Lisa Mabbutt, Colfax; Hayden Kristianson, Chewelah.
AA girls, noon: Team favorites: East Valley, West Valley. Individual favorites: Jeannette Zimmer, Cheney; Jessica Riehle and Heather Harmon, WV; Angie Simmers and Ann Marie Adams, EV; Jennifer Rea, Clarkston.
AAA girls, 12:30 p.m.: Team favorites: Eisenhower, Ferris, University, Mead. Individual favorites: Tara Hangge, Aleah Thome and Stephanie Heaton, Ike; Jennifer Smith, Kristen Parrish and Jill Johnson, Ferris; Jenni Saling, Central Valley; Stephanie Goaslind, Mead; Rebekah Paulk, Lewis and Clark. Quote: “If we’re healthy and run well, we should be in contention,” Ferris coach Wayne Gilman.
A/B boys, 1: Team favorites: Chewelah, Newport, St. George’s, Colfax. Individual favorites: David Yarnell and Kent Potter, Chewelah; Christian Laugen, St. George’s; Justin Myers, Newport; Brian Kehne, Colfax.
AA boys, 1:30: Team favorites: WV, Riverside. Individual favorites: Matt Wheeler, Clayton Holmes and Levi Lounder, WV; Chris Henderson, EV; Paul Abernathy, Clarkston; Brandon Wisniew, Pullman; Jon Ashcraft, Riverside.
AAA boys, 2: Team favorites: Mead, Ferris, U-Hi, North Central, Gonzaga Prep, Richland. Individual favorites: Isaac Hawkins, Paul Harkins and Dave Schruth, Ferris; Jason Fayant, Mead; Casey Perry, Shadle Park; Ryan Johnson, LC; Jon Caballero, NC; Matt Kerr, Kennewick; Chris Schafer, Ike. Quote: “We do have the luxury of the pack. It’s not a given, but we’re the favorite,” Mead coach Pat Tyson.
, DataTimes