Coeur d’Alene girls favored at state cross country

Unlike Washington, the Idaho state cross country meets are rotated among three regions.

The Coeur d’Alene girls captured the 5A state title in convincing fashion last year when the meets were held at Hells Gate Park in Lewiston. The meets this year are at Freeman Park in Idaho Falls on Saturday.

They could stage the meet in a parking lot and the CdA girls would be heavily favored to repeat after they lost just one to graduation.

CdA has been ranked No. 1 all season. CdA coach Cathy Compton said her team is running as well as it has all season.

Although the Vikings run essentially as a pack, they’ve been led by sophomore Emily Callahan, who is ranked fourth in the state.

Vikings junior Josie Brown took second overall last year.

Among boys, Lake City juniors Kyler Little and Jake Finney hope to break into the top five and lead the Timberwolves, who won the Region I title last week, to a top-four finish.

Little and Finney finished fifth and sixth, respectively, last year.

The top four teams in each classification earn trophies and the top 20 individuals receive medals.

• In 4A, Sandpoint senior Sam Levora will challenge for a state title after finishing runner-up last year. He and his teammates are ranked fifth.

Among girls, Moscow freshman Katherine Ruck is ranked No. 1 and the Sandpoint girls, led by junior Mikhaela Woodward, are ranked third.

• In 3A, the Timberlake boys and girls are ranked third.

Senior Sam St. Mars leads the Timberlake boys. He’s ranked eighth. Junior Natalie Herring leads the Timberlake girls. She’s ranked seventh.

• In 2A, the Coeur d’Alene Charter boys are led by senior Leif Fredericks, who took third last year. He’s ranked second.

• State-qualifying meets in Washington will be held Saturday in the region.

The 4A and 3A regionals will be at Wandermere Golf Course, beginning at 1 p.m.

The District 7 2A, 1A Bi-District and 2B/1B regional meets are at Plantes Ferry.

The 2B/1B races begin at 11 a.m., the 1A races at 12:20 p.m. and the 2A races at 1:40.