Regional Competition Promises Few Upsets
Cross country
Most of the individual races in today’s state-qualifying high school cross country meets - and even the chases for team titles - could be anticlimactic.
The element of an upset or two, though, still lingers.
The A-1 Region I meet will be held at Farragut State Park near Athol while the A-2 District I-II races will take place at Mirror Lake Golf Course in Bonners Ferry.
Here’s a look at the races.
A-1
With the weather forecast calling for cool but clear skies, the course overlooking Lake Pend Oreille promises to be as picturesque as usual.
The toughest stretch of the course has been modified. The infamous “goat hill” - a 150-meter steep stretch that often forces runners to crawl uphill - has been eliminated to give the runners a layout similar to what they’ll face at state.
The top three finishers of the five Inland Empire League teams in the boys and girls races qualify for state, which will be held Oct. 28 at Idaho Falls. The top 11 individual placers in both races also advance to state.
Sandpoint’s boys are the defending regional champs, and the Bulldogs entered the season favored to repeat. But Lewiston and Lake City have closed the gap through the season and the team title is up for grabs among the three teams.
Coeur d’Alene senior Chris Cole has been the regional pacesetter all season and is heavily favored to win. But Sandpoint’s Kyle Delamarter, Post Falls’ Brad Harmon and Lewiston’s David Taylor hope to challenge.
The Sandpoint girls are favored to repeat as regional champs. CdA appears to be a solid pick for second while third is wide open.
Sandpoint’s Saskia Neher and Emily Baker and CdA’s Kari Newby will battle for the individual championship.
The girls race will be held at 4 this afternoon and the boys race will follow 30 minutes later.
Each vehicle that enters the state park will be charged a $2 admission fee.
A-2
Moscow’s boys and girls should easily defend their team titles. The top three finishers of five Intermountain League teams in both races will advance to state along with the top 11 individual finishers.
The trek at Mirror Lake is relatively flat with some rolling hills, similar to the state course.
“What you can’t duplicate about the state course is the 5,400-foot altitude,” Bonners Ferry coach Harry O’Dell said.
Moscow’s Tony Smith is favored to defend his title. If he’s challenged, the challenge will come from a pair of teammates, Brandon Workman and Lee Pike.
The Bears’ Rachel Ferguson will find it difficult to defend her championship. She’ll be pushed by three Bonners Ferry runners - Lany Dowell, Meg Moir and Joy Bucher.
, DataTimes