Girls Cross Country Championship Up For Grabs

A measure of the talent in Greater Spokane League girls cross country is the belief by coaches than any of five teams could win the championship.

In a year when, thankfully, teams are involved in a regional meet that will advance three teams and the top 15 individuals to state, that can either be exciting or disconcerting.

“Obviously, Eisenhower (the defending state champion) should take one of them, University is ranked second in state and there’s Central Valley,” said Shadle Park coach Bob Isitt. “We’re happy just to be contending.”

Defending GSL champion and state runnerup Mead is another team coaches refuse to rule out.

“It will be hard to repeat last year,” said coach Wes Player. “Three seniors were pretty important to us. But we’ll be back in the hunt, I think, just not the favorites.”

Shadle Park hosts the Highlander Invitational this weekend. League races for four North Side schools begin next Wednesday when two of the league contenders, Mead and University, race at Manito Park.

North Central and Rogers compete against each other at Audubon Park.

The Highlanders are at home.

Panthers do have experience

Although the top two runners and one other senior have graduated, Mead is not without experience.

Five runners, including last year’s fifth-place district finisher Lynde Johnson, are back.

“She’s healthy, excited and running well,” said Player.

Not healthy, at the moment, is Karen King, Mead’s number two returnee who is treating her injury by swimming and bike riding.

“That hurts,” admitted Player, of her inability to compete.

Experience was gleaned last year by Carmine Compogno, Stephanie Goaslind and Brenna Robinson.

Behind them are a number of runners competing for varsity spots, including hurdle star Autumn Wood and Shelly Bonogofski, who has been bothered by foot problems.

“We have 10 people capable of making varsity,” said Player. “It is a matter of who comes through.”

This could be Shadle’s best team

The combination of four returning runners from last year’s 5-3 team and capable additions has Isitt excited.

“This year we would beat our team of last year pretty easily, I think,” he said. “This is the best team Shadle’s ever had.”

Sara Hall, a senior who was third in district last year, is being challenged by two other runners for No. 1 on the team.

One of them, Ali Kroegel has returned to cross country after a year with the soccer team.

The other, Christa Eide is a sophomore who, like Hall, was a district track regionals qualifier.

“They are just real close with Tiffany Steele and Amy Sawatzky right on their tails,” said Isitt.

They are Shadle’s returning Nos. 2 and 4 runners. Tanya Peterson, a junior, was No. 7.

Sophomore Olivia Liezen, “came out of the blue” and freshman Julie Sawatzky, Amy’s sister, is a prospect.

“Those eight are clearly ahead and just run in a pack, it’s really impressive,” said Isitt.

Combined, they finished less than two minutes behind Eisenhower last weekend at the Shoreline Invitational when five runners finished between 12:48 and 12:58 over 2.1 miles.

State runner leads veteran NC

Led by Lori Kostelecky, North Central is a veteran team.

“One thing kind of unusual is we have eight seniors,” said coach Jan Janke.

One of them, Kostelecky, was second in district last year and, as a result, ran in the state meet.

“She’s not in the shape she was in last year,” said Janke.

Joining her are seniors Dorri Deno, Erica Blake, Krys Allen, and Amber Johnson from last year’s varsity.

Other seniors are Kristin Kacalek, Joy Crosby and Kim Allen, Krys’s twin sister and first-year runner.

Junior Tassy Mueller returns to cross country after a year’s leave.

“I kind of expect to see her in there,” said Janke.

Like any team, NC would like to qualify for state.

“Anything can happen,” said Janke. “We’ve got kids wanting to do that for some time.”

Most runners returned at Rogers

Most of Rogers’ girls cross country team is returned.

“We’re stronger than last year,” said second-year coach Kathy Munoz. ‘Everybody has grown up a bit and is more serious as a team.”

Included is top Pirate district finisher sophomore Amanda Starkey, who finished in 26th place.

Joining her from that team are the next five placers, senior Katie Dahl, juniors Cora Gaines and Carrie Curtis, senior Rachel Schell and sophomore Tara Bertholf.

“Carrie is feeling really strong and running exceptionally,” said Munoz.

Others seeking a varsity berth are freshman Laura Gaines, Cora’s sister, seniors Susan Feinberg and Alice Schlosser.

, DataTimes