Coeur d’Alene’s boys, girls sweep regionals

The Coeur d’Alene boys and girls cross country teams were perfect at the 5A Region I state-qualifying cross country meet Wednesday afternoon.

Both teams scored 15 points with 1-2-3-4-5 finishes. CdA senior Cody Curtis won his first regional championship, finishing the 5,000-meter course at Post Falls High School in 16 minutes, 23 seconds, while Vikings freshman Josie Brown took first (19:15).

It’s the first time in CdA coach Cathy Compton’s 13 years that she’s had a double perfect showing at regionals.

“The boys are running so well and the girls are just smoking,” said …

The Coeur d’Alene boys and girls cross country teams were perfect at the 5A Region I state-qualifying cross country meet Wednesday afternoon.

Both teams scored 15 points with 1-2-3-4-5 finishes. CdA senior Cody Curtis won his first regional championship, finishing the 5,000-meter course at Post Falls High School in 16 minutes, 23 seconds, while Vikings freshman Josie Brown took first (19:15).

It’s the first time in CdA coach Cathy Compton’s 13 years that she’s had a double perfect showing at regionals.

“The boys are running so well and the girls are just smoking,” said Compton, whose teams are both ranked second in the state.

The Lake City boys and girls each took second and qualified for state, Oct. 29 at Eagle Island State Park near Boise.

In the 4A Region I meet, Moscow’s boys and girls won with 29 and 38 points, respectively. Joining the Moscow boys at state will be Sandpoint (36) while Lakeland’s girls (43) qualified for state for the first time in 4A, edging Sandpoint by a point.

Sandpoint sophomore Sam Levora took first (16:35) while Lakeland’s Bekah Kastning (21:14) led the girls. Kastning is Lakeland’s first 4A individual winner.

The top one-third individuals in 5A and 4A advance to state.

Compton was pleased with the times. The course, while relatively flat, consisted of grass that hadn’t been mowed for some time.

Following Curtis across the finish line were teammates Ben Woolley, Michael Dunton, Andrew Regan and Kenny Colbert. Curtis, Dunton, Wooley and Regan all ran on the team that took third at state last year.

“Cody ran solid,” Compton said. “There was nobody really near him.”

Four of CdA’s top seven girls are freshmen. Following Brown were Kara Story, Punky Duran, Noelle Ball and Madison Sumner.

Curtis had injury problems the previous three years.

“I’m as healthy as I’ve ever been,” Curtis said. “I started the first mile on a 4:45 pace. It set me out in the lead apart from everybody else.”

Compton had high praise for Brown, who is reminding many of former CdA standout Kinsey Gomez.

“She’s amazing, humble, gracious and kind,” Compton said.