Idaho state cross country championships: Sandpoint girls just miss three-peat

On a day and a course best suited for motocross racing or mud wrestling, Idaho high school cross country state runners were undeterred as they trudged along the gooey, puddle-laced layout at Farragut State Park.

Amidst stretches of downpours, team and individual state championships were decided.

The Sandpoint girls’ bid for a threepeat in the State 4A meet fell two points short. Winner Century finished with 57.

Cross country giveth and cross country taketh away. Sandpoint knows that all too well. The Bulldogs won by a point two years ago.

So the Bulldogs were disappointed but not in their effort.

“They came out and did the best they could,” Sandpoint coach Angie Brass said. “Our pack was good. It was just as strong as it has been. Century had a great day, they ran better than they have all season. As far as the strength and the depth of our pack, our No. 7 runner finished in front of their No. 5. That was huge.”

Junior Katherine Kaul was Sandpoint’s top finisher, taking sixth in a time of 19 minutes, 31 seconds. Katherine Ruck of Moscow defended her title (18:26).

For Kaul, it was a nice finish to a comeback season from injuries.

“It’s so amazing I can’t even describe it,” Kaul said.

Kaul said the course went from bone dry a week ago to a slimy, muddy track.

“For those who didn’t have spikes the traction was a little rough,” Kaul said. “Other than that it wasn’t too bad. There were quite a few puddles and they had deep mud. So if you stepped in those it definitely slowed your foot speed.”

Pocatello’s boys dominated on its way to the team title. Freshman Caleb Armstrong led Pocatello, winning in a time of 16:05 – eight seconds ahead of Josh Corgatelli of Moscow.

5A

Coeur d’Alene junior Caitlin Conway had hopes of finishing in the top five. But she had to settle for eighth (19:18).

“I’m happy with the race,” Conway said. “It was much more competitive. My time was faster just because I knew I had to push myself to get up there.”

Rachel Morrin of Madison won (18:27). Eagle was the team champion.

“She ran a fabulous race,” CdA coach Cathy Compton said of Conway. “I knew it was going to be a tough race and it proved to be that.”

It was a rebuilding year for CdA, which saw its string of three straight titles snapped.

“We lose just one girl,” Compton said. “We’re growing. We’ll be back. We’re going to be in the money again.”

3A

The Shelley girls and Sugar-Salem boys cruised to team titles, and the Timberlake boys and girls each earned third.

In the girls, Shelley’s top three runners finished 1-2-3.

Freshman Abigail Peightal led Timberlake, finishing sixth (20:09) and junior Taylor Hammond (20:22) was seventh. Jamey Weishaar, Timberlake’s lone senior, was 14th (21:20).

Weishaar approached the season with a personal challenge.

“She was seventh on our team a year ago,” Timberlake coach Shawn Lawler said. “She made a big step up.”

“I ran 313.2 miles over the summer,” Weishaar said. “Last year wasn’t a good year. A freshman on our team beat me and I was down about that. It motivated me to have a really great senior year.”

Junior Brayden Menti led Timberlake finishing ninth (17:29). He was 18th last year.

“It was slower than last week but in this weather – and I’m not trying to make excuses – your times are going to be slower so I’m happy with my race. There were more people ahead of me than I thought. I underestimated the other teams somewhat.”

Menti’s goal is to win next year.

“Last year at this time I had a bad race and was 18th ,” Menti said. “Being top 10 is a blessing.”

Lawler said his boys finished right where he wanted.

“We couldn’t have finished better than third,” Lawler said. “I went through it a million times on athletic.net. Sugar-Salem and Shelley are on a different planet than us.”

Timberlake doesn’t have a senior on its team. So they’ll be seeking a higher finish next year.

2A

The Coeur d’Alene Charter boys, who did no summer training, came out of nowhere to finish second, one point behind winner Soda Springs.

Senior Michael Graves led CdA Charter, placing third (17:08). Joshua Balls of Soda Springs (16:39) won.

Graves was 18th last year. He said he couldn’t train last summer because he pulled his ACL and hamstring playing soccer.

“With those two injuries, I was just hoping my physical therapist could get me out here and he did,” Graves said. “It was definitely my best race this year.”