North Central’s boys runners take big step in GSL chase

North Central’s boys cross country runners are beginning to get healthy, which is bad news for the rest of the Greater Spokane League.

In a race among preseason favorites on Wednesday, NC’s Indians dispatched Central Valley 21-34 and Mead 22-36 with a punishing surge in the meet’s final mile, and also defeated inexperienced host Ferris 17-44.

With the victory the Indians (4-0) share first place in the GSL with fellow 3A classification school Mt. Spokane and positioned themselves for a run at their first league championship since 1987.

“There’s a lot of fight left and a lot of races to go, but we haven’t won a meet like this in a long, long time,” said coach Jon Knight. “I’ve never beaten Mead or Ferris in my years of coaching cross country. Maybe this is our year.”

Steve Hicks and Adam Tyler were among the NC injured early in the year and both were back on the course for the league showdown. Hicks was the team’s fourth scorer, finishing ninth overall.

“They hadn’t had six (training) runs between them for two weeks,” Knight said. “Steve Hicks, for his lack of conditioning, ran very, very tough.”

The three schools went out together. By the time they reached the 2-mile mark, it was difficult to give any team an edge. But by the return uphill past the new Ferris gym on the southeast side of the campus, the Indians’ pack was in clear command.

NC’s Andrew Kimpel and Leon Dean chased Mead race-long leader Kelly Lynch, and Jeff Howard placed sixth behind CV runners Jayson Taylor and Bryce Aguilar. Hicks and Alex Avila rounded out team scoring with top-10 finishes.

Lynch won the 5,000-meter race in 16 minutes, 21 seconds, 2 seconds faster than Kimpel. Dean timed 16:28.

“Jeff had a great race and Andrew and Leon had great focus,” Knight said. “I couldn’t be prouder for our school.”

Prior to the boys race, sprinklers came on and doused the area where NC had set up camp. It rained on their tent, but couldn’t rain on their parade.

CV (4-1) won twice and Mead (3-2) once, while Ferris (1-4) lost all three at home.

In other races, Mt. Spokane (4-0) kept pace with victories at Shadle Park over the host Highlanders (1-3) and East Valley (0-4). Allan Schroeder beat Shadle’s Dan Renz 15:27 to 15:40 for 3 miles as the Wildcats had six of the top nine placers. … At Manito Park, Lewis and Clark (4-1) swept Gonzaga Prep (3-2), University (1-3) and Rogers (0-5). The Tigers swept the top three spots with just 3 seconds separating Chris Ennis, Kaleb Fergin and Derek Alcorn, who all finished between 17:14 and 17:17.

Girls

With CV No. 1 runner Eden Lake under the weather, it was up to someone else to deliver the goods. That someone, as is often the case in girls cross country, was a freshman.

Madi Barnes couldn’t steal the race from Mead frosh Baylee Mires, but her second-place finish was vital in the 5-0 Bears’ 26-29 victory over the Panthers (4-1) in their first-place showdown.

“She did what she needed to do,” said CV coach Dennis McGuire. “Not that I didn’t know Madi was good. But I didn’t know she’d be the one to pick it up. That makes us much better.”

She ran with Mires and Panther Sara Stenerson, raced downhill for the lead prior to the 2-mile mark and used that surge for her second-place finish. Lake placed fifth overall as No. 2 runner for the Bears, who had their five scorers in the top 10.

CV and Mead beat NC and Ferris. The Indians (1-3) beat the Saxons (1-4), with Rachel Ballard placing fourth overall.

Elsewhere, Shadle’s Andrea Nelson timed 18:14 on her home course to win by a minute, but Mt. Spokane (4-0) won twice, over the host Highlanders (1-3) and East Valley (0-4). The Wildcats had three of the top five finishers, with runner-up Courtney Zalud timing 19:10. … At Manito Park, LC (4-1) swept Gonzaga Prep (3-2), U-Hi (2-2) and Rogers (0-5). Eleanor Siler won in 20:31 to 20:35 over G-Prep’s Alicia Doohan as the Tigers had seven of the top 10 finishers.