Best Attend Highlander Invitational

The Highlander Invitational, reputed to be the state’s oldest prep cross country event of its kind, promises to be one of the state’s best.

Shadle Park girls coach Bob Isitt expects five of the state’s top 10 ranked girls teams - including defending State AAA champion Eisenhower - at Saturday’s races. The boys field should include seventime defending State AAA champ Mead, plus Big Nine Conference powers Richland, Ike and Wenatchee.

“It’s probably the oldest invite in the state,” Isitt said. “It goes back at least to the mid-1960s.”

The second-ranked University girls and No. 6 Mead are set to challenge Ike and the host and fourth-ranked Highlanders. Ike finished first and Shadle third at last weekend’s Shoreline Invitational in Seattle.

The Mead boys have won at least five consecutive Highlanders, Isitt said.

Ferris, highly regarded for boys and girls, is scheduled to attend but not with a varsity lineup. The Saxons’ varsity is headed to Sandy, Ore. The 10th-ranked Central Valley girls are also sending a JV team to Shadle.

The senior girls race is scheduled for noon. The senior boys should follow 30 minutes later.

Shirt on NC alumni backs

An alumni cross country T-shirt, originated when Len Long coached at North Central, is again being sold as a team fund-raiser. Current coach Jon Knight said anyone who wishes to purchase the specially designed T-shirt can call him at 353-5220.

, DataTimes