Huge day for area runners

High school cross country: North Central won its third consecutive boys team title and had the individual champion at the Nike Nationals Western Regional run at Eagle Island State Park in Boise on Saturday.

The Indians, running as the North Spokane XC Club because teams cannot officially run in the event under their high school banner, won with 93 points with Ferris (South Side Harriers) taking second with 104.

Both teams qualified for the nationals to be run in Portland on Dec. 5. North Central won the nationals last year.

“North Central is really glad that Ferris made it in with us and excited that we’ll both represent Spokane in the nationals,” said Jon Knight, coach of the North Central HS team. “It was a big day for the GSL and Coeur d’Alene area with six of the top 10 (in the boys race).

North Central’s Ben Johnston (above), who won the State 3A title, was first in the Nike event with a time of 15 minutes, 29.6 seconds.

Adam Thorne of Ferris was third in 15:46.1.

The first five individuals who are not part of a qualifying team also get to go to nationals. They will include Cody Helbling of Lake City (fourth overall in 15:50.9) and Mt. Spokane’s Allan Schroeder (seventh overall, 16:03.3).

Mead freshman Andrew Gardner was ninth and Alex Avila was 10th.

Freshman Katie Knight of North Central finished third overall in the girls race in 18:11.1. Emily Nist of Idaho’s Bishop Kelly High School was first in 17:57.4.

Andrea Nelson of Shadle Park also qualified for nationals, finishing seventh overall in 18:30.8.

She and her teammates, running as the Spokane Hilanders, finished third in the team race behind first-place Jesuit of Oregon and Bishop Kelly, but may still qualify as an at-large team.