Area runners ready to strut their stuff again
A year ago area cross country runners and teams brought home a dozen team trophies, four of them champions, and 39 individual medals, including two race winners.
This year’s polls reflect the respect of such accomplishments with 23 area teams from various leagues ranked in the top 10 of their boys and girls classes.
Teams and individuals hope to live up to the recognition as they qualify for state during regional and district races.
The Northeast A/Caribou Trail League regional is today at Chewelah Golf Course and District 9 2B/1B meet is in Pomeroy. The Class 2A and 2B/1B District 7 races are at Fairways Golf Course on Friday. The 4A and 3A regionals among Greater Spokane League and Columbia Basin League runners are Saturday at Wandermere Golf Course.
The Mead and Central Valley boys and the CV girls are ranked No. 1 or 2 among 4A schools in the latest state polls. Defending 3A boys champion North Central is favored to repeat.
Four Great Northern League schools are ranked in the top 10 among both boys and girls 2A teams, including last year’s state runner-up Riverside girls and the third-place West Valley boys. But only three in each qualify for state. Someone must stay home.
Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls), Cheney and Colville shared the boys league title. The Rams finished fourth in league behind Cheney, West Valley and Deer Park among the girls.
Lakeside’s defending state champion boys and fourth-ranked girls lead the NEA. St. George’s boys and girls, first and second in state last year, are ranked that way again.
Notes
Shadle Park sophomore Andrea Nelson was second in State 4A last year and Northwest Christian’s Lisa Vandenburg is defending B champion. … Mead’s Kelly Lynch, seventh a year ago, is one of the top two returning 4A boys. … North Central had four runners who are among the top eight 3A state boys returners. … Colville’s Justin Rose was fourth in 2A. … Lakeside has back top-six placers Kyle Johnson, Tim Welch and Kayloni Jones. … Valley Christian’s Jeff Pope, Brian Angove of St. George’s and Odessa’s Matt Cronrath were top five placers among B boys.