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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Schweitzer Bike Races Should Please Variety

From Staff Reports

There will be, as the saying goes, something for everyone at the inaugural Schweitzer Dirt & Rock Tour mountain bike races Aug. 16-18 at Schweitzer Mountain.

A food court, expo, street party, observed time trial demonstration and kids’ races are on the agenda.

But the main attraction will be the 11th of 13 races on NORBA’s American Mountain Bike Challenge circuit - a downhill, pro dual slalom and cross country races.

Between 500 and 800 riders are expected, including cross country pro Calebe Stolte of Missoula and Keith Defiebre, a pro dual slalom competitor, who’ll set up that course.

The downhill is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Aug. 17 with the pro/elite riders leading off. At 3:30 p.m. is the pro dual slalom. Sports riders lead off the cross country at 10 a.m. Aug. 18, with the pro/elite going last. A kids’ race begins at 3 p.m.

The observed time trials demonstration will be featured at an Aug. 16 street party at the Pend Oreille Brewing Co. in downtown Sandpoint beginning at 6 p.m. Riders not preregistered can register then. Preregistration deadline is Friday.

Info: (509) 533-9354.

Casey Smith led the Spokane Mountain Bikes team to four of the first five places in the sports class downhill at the Big Mountain Gear Grinder stop of the Washington, Idaho, Montana (WIM) race last weekend.

Jarred Gildehaus of Midway Cyclery won the sport senior II class for 27-34-year-olds, with Rick Hoover of Midway winning the beginner junior I class for 12-14-year-olds in his first race.

Baseball

The Spokane South All-Stars Mustang (10-year-old) team finished second in the Pacific Northwest Regional Qualifier last weekend to barely miss a trip to nationals.

Spokane lost its first game, then won four straight before falling 14-1 to Mountlake Terrace in the title game. Spokane had a 14-4 postseason record.

Coached by Larry McClenny, team members are: Tyler Adams, Brian Brown, Ryan Byers, Ricky Elton, Nathan Farr, Randy Folsom, Chad Hall, Austin Harpster, Justin Houck, Erik Loft, Matt McClenny, Jason Plecha, Kyle Rekofke and Erik Zacher.

Greg Kaatz of Curlew, an NAIA All-American honorable mention infielder from Eastern Oregon State College, has signed to play with the Grays Harbor (Wash.) Gulls on the professional Western Baseball League.

Climbing

More than 100 climbers are expected at Wild Walls Saturday for a junior and open competition.

From 9 a.m.-noon will be the Junior Flash Festival for climbers 19 and younger. Registration and check-in begins at 8.

In the afternoon will be an event for those 20 and older in beginner, intermediate, advanced and open divisions.

Pre-registration is $25 for either event, $27 after Monday. There is no charge for spectators. Info: 455-9596.

College scene

Katie King of Spokane (Gonzaga Prep), who’ll be a junior at Notre Dame, has been named co-captain of the women’s golf team. She’s one of the top two scorers returning.

Cycling

Bill Misner of Spokane won the gold medal in the 55-59 age group at the 1996 Washington State and District U.S. Cycling Federation Time Trial Hill Climb Championships.

In a 7-mile climb up Crystal Mountain, adjacent to Mt. Rainier, he was time in 28 minutes, 42 seconds.

Football

The Inland Empire Football Officials Association, which covers area high school, junior high and youth leagues, will have its first meeting Monday, 7 p.m., at 514 S. Elm.

Secretary Chic Sale said there is an urgent need for new officials.

The WIAA state rules clinic will be Aug. 19, 6:30 p.m., at Central Valley High. Info: Sale, 924-1936 or Glen Hepner, 466-5976.

Former Washington State standouts Jack Thompson and Derek Sparks will be on hand to sign autographs during pre-registration for Football Family Frenzy Aug. 23 at Sports Town, 131 Parkade Plaza at Main and Stevens.

Football Family Frenzy founder Guy Thomas said Thompson and Sparks will be available from 7-8:30 p.m. Pre-registration will run from 4-9 at Sports Town.

The family-oriented flag football event will be Aug. 24-25 at Shadle Park.

Golf

Paul Tilton of Post Falls is in Green Bay, Wis., this weekend competing in the Gillette Putting Challenge after winning a sweepstakes drawing at Shopko.

Tilton, 31, who told tournament officials he plays golf a couple times a year, can earn $25,000 by sinking a 10-foot putt. Since winning the drawing, he said he’s practiced regularly.

Softball

Whitney Bliss of Cheney and Laurie Vallieres of Newport are among 10 recruits signed to play softball at Central Washington University, said coach Gary Frederick.

Bliss, an infielder, was a four-year letterwinner and was her team’s captain as a senior. Vallieres was a two-time AllNortheast A League third baseman. She batted .400 as a junior and .425 as a senior.

Tennis

Danny Allbery, 13, of Spokane is one of 32 players from across the country invited to the 12th annual U.S. Tennis Association/ National Junior Tennis League camp this week in Escondido, Calif.

A half-dozen Spokane men’s and women’s teams will be competing in U.S. Tennis Association events this month.

This coming weekend four of them will be in Portland for sectional playoffs. The teams and their captains: Women’s 4.5, North Park Racquet Club (Colleen Johnson); men’s 3.5, Central Park Racquet Club (Ron Tan); men’s 4.5, North Park (Dave Lill); and men’s 5.0, North Park (Ron Ellingson).

On Aug. 16-18, two Spokane Racquet Club teams will be at a senior sectional in Sunriver, Ore. The 4.0 team is led by captain Elita Jones, and the 4.5 by Nancy Slaughter.

Track and field

Katie Kneeshaw, the State A 1,600-meter champion from Colfax, has signed a letter of intent with the University of Montana.

Kneeshaw, eighth at state in cross country, has a best of 5 minutes, 14 seconds in the 1,600 and 19:10 over a 3-mile cross country course.

Miscellany

Terry Irwin, retired boys basketball coach at Central Valley and Gonzaga Prep, will be the main speaker at a coaches clinic Aug. 16-17 at the Deaconess Health & Education Center, 900 W. Fifth.

Other presenters will include area athletic trainers and physical therapists.

Clinic topics include strength, power and speed development; stretching and flexibility; training principles; and injury prevention. Registration is at 7:30 a.m. both days with adjournment at 1 p.m. Cost is $10. Call 458-7080 to pre-register.

, DataTimes