North Central 3A front-runner

Despite a game attempt, nary a runner on North Central’s youthful cross country team cracked the top 10 last season in an early three-way Greater Spokane League meet against powers Ferris and Mead.

“We knew they were tough,” recalled Leon Dean, a sophomore at the time. “I remember Coach telling us to go out and see how long we could stay with them. We did for about three-quarters of a mile. It went downhill a little bit after that.”

But the race was a lesson learned for a team that ran just one senior on varsity and even this year has just four.

“After that race it gave us a big realization that if we wanted to be the best we had to step it up in workouts,” said Andrew Kimpel, another junior. “That was the intensity level it was going to take.”

“It was kind of a bummer,” added Adam Tyler. “They’d been doing that to us the past few years, but we’re getting closer and closer.”

Togetherness of thought, togetherness as a team: In cross country last fall, Indians runners swept the top four places in the 3A regional cross country meet won by Tyler. Just 11 seconds separated the quartet that included Kimpel, Dean and Steve Hicks.

Last spring in track they were at it again. A photograph in The Spokesman-Review pictured four Indians finishing abreast – Dean, Kimpel, Hicks and freshman Alex Avila – scant seconds apart in the 3A regional 1,600 meters.

It wasn’t surprising then that this team, including four sophomores, went on to capture the state cross country championship or that they helped NC place second in track. It’s no surprise that, with the addition of Avila, that NC is favored to repeat and is ranked high nationally.

If the Indians were to win the GSL this year over traditional powers Mead and Ferris and this year’s co-favorite Central Valley, plus qualify for Nike Nationals, that would be even better, said Dean.

Where did NC get these young and gifted runners?

“Occasionally the stars align,” said NC coach Jon Knight. “I like to think it is a little bit of genetics, a little bit of coaching and a little bit of being in Spokane. This is just a great league.”

He and assistant Len Long, a former NC head coach, combined, have nearly 100 years of coaching experience, Knight said, and like other coaches it takes digging to find youngsters willing to give distance running a try.

They found Tyler, for instance, from a Bloomsday race, Knight said.

“I never ran at all in middle or elementary school,” said Tyler. “Len came to my house over the summer and wanted me to run.”

He played football as a freshman, was an admitted “slacker” in track and then finished 28th in state cross country as a sophomore. Last year he placed 15th.

“I could have finished higher, but (state champion) Max O’Donoghue-McDonald was in there and I had to run with him,” said Tyler. “I paid the price, but at least I tried and had a little fun.”

Kimpel also didn’t run until high school. He said he fancied himself a basketball player.

“After the freshman all-city race I was 22nd and was pretty mad I didn’t get a ribbon,” he said. “I was determined to work my tail off over the summer.”

Kimpel is a runner as smooth as silk, his coach said. He finished fifth in state the next fall.

Dean, on the other hand, has been a runner since fourth grade, his compact style lending itself to hill running, but also the runner with the most speed. He understands the mental part of competition, said Knight.

Dean finished 11th in state, right behind Hicks, who likes the mileage and knows all the minutiae of the history of the sport, Knight said.

Knight’s concern about the upcoming season is two-fold. Last year was easier for a young team that snuck up on the field, he said. This year the target is on their back. Second, NC has been beset by nagging injuries, including to Hicks.

“It’s frustrating to have high billing and not be firing on all cylinders,” said Knight. “Coach Long is fond of saying that sports provide the highest highs and lowest lows. This season could provide a little of each. If I can get them all healthy by the end of the year, these guys can be very good.”