University Runs Past Mead To Claim Cross Country Victory
People came from everywhere Wednesday with an inkling that history would be made when University’s boys cross country team raced against Mead.
It had been a decade since the Panthers’ last league loss. The last time U-Hi beat a Mead cross country team, 1982, current Titan runners were infants and toddlers.
Spectators sensed this would be the moment when the streaks would end.
“That’s why we’re here,” said West Valley coach Jim McLachlan, one of the many who were at Shadle Park to witness U-Hi’s emphatic 17-38 triumph.
The victory in the boys race meant a U-Hi sweep, coming as it did after the Titan girls’ triumph over Mead.
“It’s exciting that tons of people were here,” said boys race winner Seth Mott. “We’re lucky to go to a school where we’re supported.”
His team’s victory margin was as stunning as it was significant. Mead had won nine straight Greater Spokane League championships. The run apparently is ended.
University has won wherever it has run this season. Included was victory over Mead at the Sunfair Invitational in Yakima two weeks earlier.
“It doesn’t feel any different,” said Titan No. 3 finisher Kris Martin. “It was just another race.”
Martin said he thought there was another lap to go when people informed him the finish was near and he had to kick it in.
It was he, however, who had written a message on coach Bob Barbero’s school calendar reminding coach and team that Wednesday was the day to kick the Panthers’ posterior.
“It was sweet,” said Barbero, “and we did it in good style. It wasn’t a nip.”
Mott and runnerup Dan Chavez, ran one-two from the outset. Martin stayed with a 12-runner pack until learning that time was short.
Two others, Mark Davis and Jeff Rees were just three seconds behind Mead’s first finisher. Mike Visintainer, though 11th, was another three seconds behind Mead’s No. 2 runner.
The Titans can enjoy the moment for now. With district and state races in the future there’s still business to get done.
In a dramatic prelude, U-Hi’s girls edged Mead 27-30 in a meet between league unbeatens. The Titan girls are a race win away, Wednesday against Lewis and Clark and Centeral Valley, from their first GSL championship.
During three-quarter mile intervals in the three-mile race, no more than a point separated either team until U-Hi’s No. 5 and No. 6 runners, Kristin Thornton and Katie List, raced past Mead’s No. 4 finisher.
“I didn’t know who was ahead of me,” said List.
Added Thornton, “We did what we were supposed to.”
The win set off a wild celebration among the Titan girls.
U-Hi and Mead had run neck-and-neck like this in three previous invitational races.
“We’ve been even in all the races so far,” said coach Steve Llewellyn. “I thought our girls would get them.”
What they’d like to get, he added, was a state berth. Seven teams, five from the GSL and two from the Big Nine are expected to contend for four spots.
The Titans, who won state in 1992 and have qualified for much of the 1990s, missed out last year.
“We want to get back,” said Llewellyn. “It’s been too long.”
U-Hi’s boys, second place a year ago, want to return for other reasons. One place yet awaits.
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