Knights Impressive In Opener, Have A Shot At Three-Peat
Frontier girls cross country
Can East Valley’s girls cross country team win a third straight State AA championship?
“If we’re healthy and the girls are on the same page Nov. 9, we might,” says coach Nick Lazanis.
South Whidby, which finished just four points behind the Knights at last year’s meet and returns its top runners, stands in the way.
Times the Knights recorded during last weekend’s All Valley meet at Liberty Lake County Park, however, were impressive.
Four EV runners ran under 21 minutes and finished within 40 seconds of each other.
They made short work of the state’s third-rated AAA team, University, and last year’s main Frontier League rival West Valley. Those schools had only one runner each under 21 minutes.
All but two members of last year’s varsity team have returned, and the Knights have added a talented newcomer.
Riverside brings back its entire team and West Valley has one of the best individual runners in the state, along with most of its lineup from last season’s second-place league finish.
But whether EV “three-peats” as state champion or not, other teams in the Frontier League this year will likely race for second place.
Continued improvement EV goal
Last weekend’s season debut was impressive, but the Knight girls cannot rest.
“We did pretty well, in fact a lot better than I thought,” said Lazanis. “I think we have room for improvement. We’ll see what happens.”
Last year’s sixth-place state finisher Angie Simmers, 15th placer Cara Smith and 18th placer Ann Marie Adams led the way last weekend.
All Valley junior race winner Adams ran 20:09 to beat Smith’s 20:12. Simmers ran 20:20 for third in the senior race.
In addition, sophomore Korinda Godwin timed 20:49 to win her race easily. She will, said Lazanis, be right with the others.
Also back from last year’s state champion team is senior Holly Weiler. New freshman is Crystal Gerky.
“When she gets a couple more races, she’ll be in with them, too,” said Lazanis.
He’s looking for a seventh runner from a host of others, including three-year veteran Carmen Cook. She had a stress fracture and missed the district and state meets last year, and is nursing an injury again.
Her sister, Crystal Cook, senior Heidi Williams, junior Amber Lewis, sophomores Liz Wood and Sarah Davis and freshman Joann Adams are the other hopefuls.
Runner leads WV for fourth year
Three-time top 10 state finisher and former state champion Jessica Riehle is back for her fourth season.
Riehle, who won the All Valley senior race in a day’s best 20:03, holds school records on 12 different courses. Ironically, the only Frontier League record she doesn’t hold is on her home course.
Joining her are four members of last year’s team.
“We’re going to be OK,” said coach Jim McLachlan. “We’re ranked third in state in pre-season, but I don’t know if we’re that good.”
Others back for the Eagles are juniors Cori Watke and Amy Martinson who placed 13th and 14th in district.
Sophomore Casey Lounder, who was 21st, and junior Missy Baca, who was 25th, also return.
Joining them is sophomore Jessica Ferguson, who had WV’s second-best time at the All Valley meet, junior Madeline McNeal and senior Tracey Leigh.
, DataTimes