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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

East Valley Runs, Kicks Their Way To Wins Over West Valley

East Valley and West Valley soccer players were kicking up a storm on the field in front of EV high school, at the same time boys and girls cross country runners from both school raced by.

The luck of the schedule maker had resulted in the festive championship atmosphere, pitting the two schools against each other in three contests at the same time.

“Just a casual Thursday afternoon’s work,” mused EV principal Jeff Miller, who with WV counterpart Cleve Penberthy walked back and forth between soccer and the races that began at the Knight football field on the other side of the school.

All turned out right for the Knights, who swept the contests.

The girls cross country runners, working on their fourth straight league title, won handily, 15-47. WV, winners of nine championships over the previous 20 years, expected to be their closest challenger.

EV boys also won, 23-36, in what was probably their sternest Frontier test. WV or EV have won the past five boys championships, the two schools even sharing a title in 1994.

Between them they have 17 of the league’s 24 titles.

The Knight soccer team struck early and scored often for a 6-0 decision. It was a prelude to next Thursday’s showdown with Cheney.

Taking turns at the top

Different Knight girls cross country runners have taken turns running at the front of the pack. Last week it was freshman Melissa Frostad.

Normally No. 4, she had the team’s fastest time at the Sunfair Invite and against WV led a six-runner sweep.

Right behind her were Ann Marie Adams and Cara Smith, who had the fifth- and sixth-best times at Sunfair.

“All I can say is the top four are fighting for a first-place spot,” said Adams. “That’s good. If someone is having a bad day, another makes up for it.”

Normal No. 1 runner Melanie Frostad finished fourth, but she was running with a cast on her left arm. She broke a bone in her wrist Sunday while playing in a soccer match in Wenatchee.

“It’s so heavy,” Frostad complained of the excess baggage.

EV coach Nick Lazanis, vacationing in the Caribbean, missed the race. Glenn Gunderson, the girls track coach, filled in.

New kid on the block

Last season, league champion EV’s boys cross country, though undefeated as a team, never had an individual race winner.

Junior Jim Marlow changed that Thursday. He beat WV’s Sean McLachlan by 14 seconds. Last year McLachlan was third in district, Marlow 10th.

“I gave up summer baseball after 11 years and trained two months longer than I usually do,” said Marlow, who played for the Knight junior varsity baseball team last spring.

Baseball had always been a part of him, he said, but he has taken to running in a big way.

“Sean has beaten me as long as I’ve run, until this year,” said Marlow. “He’s been my bench mark.”

The first three runners from the two teams alternated places. But EV had the seventh-through-tenth finishers to win the showdown.

Friendly repartee of a winner

When you score twice in the match’s first 15 minutes and build a six-goal lead, coach and players can afford some friendly banter.

Kristin Carlson begged coach Bill Wright to put her back into the match with five minutes to go.

She had scored EV’s first goal 12 minutes into the game and within five minutes the Knights had upped the lead to 3-0.

Wright joked that he took her out because she wouldn’t pass to anybody else.

Countered Carlson, following April Start’s second goal that gave EV its final total, “Who’s the ball hog now, Mr. Wright? April’s scored a million goals.”

After the win, Wright said, “I don’t want any more of those tie games with WV. We’ve had five or six over the past few years.”

Of course the six-goal margin of victory couldn’t compare with Cheney’s 18-0 thrashing of Clarkston on the same day.

Sale sails to Captain’s Cup title

Championship of the Liberty Lake Ladies 18-Hole Captain’s Cup tournament was won by Noreen Sale. She shot a net 76 to defeat the field of six monthly finalists. Putting winner with 27 was Freda Beckman.

During weekly play, Kerri Barham led A flight with low gross 86. Beckman shot 97 in B, Barb Midkiff had 109 in C and Barb Buteux won D. Net leaders were Jackie Shea with 76 in A, Marion Jordan with 73 in B. Jan Krogseth and Myrna Neubauer tied at 79 in C flight. Lee King won D with 93.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo