Herman Gets Field’s Goat As He Runs To Another Farragut Title

No that wasn’t a billy goat gamboling along the pictorial, all-terrain 3.1-mile course here overlooking Lake Pend Oreille - at least not literally, though such animals frequent these parts.

Billy “Goat” Herman of Centennial High in Meridian, Idaho, ran on two legs Saturday afternoon, not four, and the two-time defending Idaho State A-1 champion had no difficulty capturing a second straight title at the Farragut Invitational.

Herman - whose teammates tagged him with the nickname “Goat” because of his love for the Farragut course that features the infamous “goat hill,” a steep 150-meter long grade that often reduces runners to crawling - zipped around the diverse layout in a time of 16 minutes, 26 seconds to capture the boys A race. It’s the second-fastest time ever at Farragut and eclipsed Herman’s previous best by 8 seconds.

Drew Erickson of Boise (16:55) finished nearly 30 seconds behind Herman. Chris Henderson of East Valley (16:57) took third.

“I really love this course,” said Herman, who counts rock climbing among his favorite recreational activities. “I don’t know if I like it (the nickname) or not, but I love the hills so I can’t complain.”

Herman will race at the prestigious SunFair meet in Yakima, Wash., next Saturday, where he’ll face some of the top runners in the Pacific Northwest, including Greater Spokane League runners. Herman finished third at the meet last year.

In the girls A race, meanwhile, sophomore Susan Werner of Boise defended her Farragut title, cruising to the win in a time of 20:01. Central Valley’s Jenni Saling, runner-up to Werner last year, finished third (20:19).

In the boys B race, Jon Ashcraft of Riverside caught Christian Laugen of St. George’s in the final 25 meters and out-lunged Laugen at the tape as both finished in a time of 17:12. In the girls B race, Katie Kneeshaw of Colfax won in a time of 21:26 despite an overall slow pace.

Just one individual winner was a part of a team championship Saturday in ideal weather conditions. The Ashcraft-led Rams of Riverside defended their B title, posting 50 points to finish ahead of Pullman (68). McCall-Donnelly was third (111).

East Valley’s girls, ranked No. 1 in the Washington state Class AA poll, ran in their typical pack as they nipped Boise. EV finished with 69 points to Boise’s 78.

McCall-Donnelly, a small A-3 girls team from McCall, Idaho, breezed to the B girls team title with 45 points. Bonners Ferry (107) finished a distant second.

Boise’s boys, who are considered the strong favorite to take the A-1 title in Idaho this fall, used the pack method to capture the A team trophy. The Braves finished with 70 points, Gonzaga Prep followed with 106 and Chewelah took third with 115.

For the EV girls, Saturday represented a chance at redemption. At a meet earlier this month in Vale, Ore., the Knights were edged by Boise.

“We’re really happy with how the meet came out because when we compare the team (to last year) the team is definitely improved and that’s a good sign for us looking toward the state meet,” EV coach Nick Lazanis said.

In other words, don’t look for the Knights to fall from their perch atop the A-2 rankings in Washington.

EV’s Angie Simmers finished sixth as three other teammates placed in the top 20 and two others were in the top 25.

Kneeshaw of Colfax, a senior who has deep roots at Farragut, had to miss the meet last year because of a sinus infection. She won the junior high race here a few years ago and her brother, Kevin, a sophomore at the University of Montana, is a former winner.

She battled back and forth with Brooke Murphy of McCall. They exchanged leads before Kneeshaw moved into first for good about 200 meters from the finish line.

Boise’s Werner had plenty of kick left at the end in the A race - especially after taking the lead for good in the final straightaway leading into the park area.

, DataTimes