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Prep notebook: North Central’s Dempsey Ortega named UST&F state girls cross country coach of the year

Dempsey Ortega, head coach for North Central’s girls cross country team, gives an interview following a Greater Spokane League meet at Manito Park on Oct. 17, 2018. Ortega was named UST&F girls cross country coach of the year. (Libby Kamrowski / The Spokesman-Review)
Dempsey Ortega, head coach for North Central’s girls cross country team, gives an interview following a Greater Spokane League meet at Manito Park on Oct. 17, 2018. Ortega was named UST&F girls cross country coach of the year. (Libby Kamrowski / The Spokesman-Review)Buy a print of this photo
By Dave Nichols daven@spokesman.com(509) 459-5441

North Central girls cross country coach Dempsey Ortega was named U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association girls high school coach of the year for Washington, an honor bestowed on the coach last month.

The Indians won the state championship in record-setting fashion, scoring 21 points – the lowest score on a 5,000-meter course for girls or boys in state history.

NC easily surpassed the State 3A record (Glacier Peak, 41 in 2010), beating second-place Kamiakin by 113 points – the largest margin of victory in state history.

Sophomore Allie Janke paced the Indians, winning in 17 minutes, 59.10 seconds, 30 seconds faster than second-place finisher Geraldin Correa of Kennewick.

“Our team had specific goals for this weekend, and the first goal, of course, was to get a second straight title,” Ortega told The Spokesman-Review in November. “The second goal was to beat the all-time record at state, and we were thinking maybe 32 would be possible, and we scored 21 points.”

The 2017 state champ, NC junior Erinn Hill, took third at 18:34.10. Mia Hill, Marie Taylor and Amelu Ruff – all juniors – finished eighth, ninth and 10th, respectively, to give NC all five of its scoring runners a top-10 finish.

Idaho all-tourney

Several North Idaho girls were selected by the media to the state all-tournament teams.

5A: First team: Bridget Rieken (Lake City). Second team: Klaire Mitchell (LC), Brooklyn Rewers (LC).

4A: Honorable mention: Katy Ryan (Lakeland).

3A: First team: Taryn Soumas (Timberlake). Second team: Brooke Jessen (Timberlake), Jerzie Pluid (Bonners Ferry); Hon. mention: McKeeley Tonkin (Timberlake).

1AD2: First team: Bella Murekatete (Genesis Prep). Second team: Rachel Schroeder (GP)

Soumas, a sophomore guard, broke the tourney record for 3-pointers in a game (seven) and in a state tournament (13).

1,500-point club

Liberty’s Maisie Burnham scored 25 points, hitting 14 of 17 from the line, in a 56-52 win over Colfax on Feb. 12 in the District 7 2B tournament to surpass 1,500 points in her career. The 6-foot junior was named Northeast 2B South Division Most Valuable Player this season.

More signings

  • Tristan Lookabill from Ferris signed a national letter of intent to play baseball for Big Bend Community College.
  • Priest River’s Robbie Anselmo will be signing a commitment to play football for the Lewis-Clark Valley Loggers, an NCAA affiliate team comprised of athletes from multiple colleges in the Lewiston area.