Still Trying To Catch Up Panhandle Runners Improved, But Won’t Be State Contenders

No Panhandle high school cross country runners should challenge for a state championship this season.

And no teams figure to be in serious contention for a title, either.

That doesn’t mean area runners and teams will lag far behind their counterparts from southern Idaho. What could be the striking difference between this season and last is that North Idaho runners and teams should close the gap significantly on the traditionally stronger southern teams.

Area runners and teams were lost in the pack at last year’s state meets. Although much improved, they’re a year away from running with the favorites.

Here’s a look at the two area conferences.

Inland Empire League

The Lake City boys could be the most-improved A-1 team in the state.

The Timberwolves, who captured a second straight Region I championship last year, return five runners who placed in the top 10 at the meet. They are: seniors Josh Johnson (fifth), Mike Keith (seventh) and Nick Schmidt (10th), junior Charlie Miller (regional champ) and sophomore Max Schmidt (fourth), Nick’s brother.

Senior Mike Rau, out for the first time, has been running with the top five. Seniors Jason Scarth, Rob Phillips and Aaron Moate and sophomore Trevor Knight are battling for the seventh spot.

Miller finished 17th at state and the T-Wolves took seventh.

LC coach Donna Messenger expects individual and team improvements at state.

“We thought we had an outside chance at fifth last year,” Messenger said. “I think finishing in the top five this year is very realistic.”

With LC practically a lock for the regional title, the battle will be for the other two state berths. And the four other league teams figure to be in the chase.

LC’s stiffest competition should come from Lewiston and Sandpoint.

Lewiston, the regional runner-up, returns seniors Nick Rynearson (eighth), Todd Jones and Brian Leachman and sophomore Adam Lenzmeier (ninth).

Sandpoint brings back senior Mark Allen (third), a three-year state qualifier. Also returning are seniors John Stephenson and Martin Flaherty. A handful of Bulldogs are vying for the final spots.

The two teams that hope to knock off Lewiston and Sandpoint are Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls.

Post Falls figures to have its best team since winning the regional three years ago. Leading a fivesome of capable runners is junior Jason Kunz (11th). Seniors Eric Woods, James Shepard and Scott Wardian and junior James Broncheau round out the top five.

Coeur d’Alene will field its best team since breaking into two schools three years ago, although the Viks return no runner from the top 10 at regionals. Seniors Andrew Dubuisson and Joe McKenna, junior Chris Black and sophomores Court Thompson and David Seccombe provide a solid nucleus. Freshman Travis Newby has been first or second in early time trials.

IEL girls teams will be much more closely matched than the boys.

It appears Sandpoint’s four-year run as regional champ will come to an end unless several young runners surprise. The Bulldogs are blessed with returning regional champ Nicole Maloney, a junior who finished 22nd at state (tops among all IEL runners). Joining Maloney are juniors Francie Piehl and Chrissy Ross.

“We’re kind of in a year of transition with the girls and boys,” coach Cheryl Klein said. “It’s been my experience with the girls that the years I’ve thought we didn’t have much, they pulled through - especially the freshmen.”

The coaches give the early nod to Coeur d’Alene. The Viks return five of their top seven, including juniors Eva Unruh (second at regional) and Kelsi Luhnow (third). Joining them are senior Annie Stranger, junior Kira Thompson and sophomore Liza Covington (12th). Freshman Holly Grant is pushing the middle of the Viks’ pack.

Pushing CdA and possessing enough talent to perhaps overtake the Viks is Lake City. Junior Libby Gerber (eighth) is the top T-Wolf back. Seniors Kelly Bean and Nicole Harmon and juniors Julie Vieselmeyer and Deborah Moyer give LC a solid middle force. Messenger is also high on sophomore Moni Gomez and freshman Brandi Elder.

Although Post Falls will still be young, Trojans coach Sue Lauer is tickled about her top three athletes. They are: sophomore Tiffany Moate (seventh) and freshmen Nicolle Clutter and Carrie Paulitz.

Lewiston isn’t as deep as the other teams. The Bengals’ top returner is sophomore Hallie Warnock.

Intermountain League

Bonners Ferry’s boys finished seventh at state last year after knocking off Moscow for the District I-II title.

It would be a huge leap for the Badgers to challenge for a state crown. But Moscow coach Bob Weisel, whose team won state two years ago, begs to differ.

“Harry (O’Dell, Badgers coach) has the same kind of team I had; they’re as good as my state title team,” Weisel said.

O’Dell returns his top runners in seniors Winter Braden (third at district) and Delray Romero (10th) and juniors Josh Sherven (fourth), Jarred Ekstrom (seventh) and Aaron Leach (12th).

Sherven and Braden just missed earning a medal at state last year (the top 20 finishers medal), finishing 21st and 22nd respectively.

“Nobody will touch us in the IML,” O’Dell said. “I can stick my neck out that far. A point of worry for me is we haven’t gone up against any competition yet. Hopefully that’ll happen the next couple of weeks.”

It’s wide open among the other teams for the next two team state berths.

Lakeland coach Mike Normand is high on his team. Senior Reid Houck (ninth) is the top returner. Also back are senior James Primmer and juniors Caleb Weller, Matt Corsi and Courtney Peterson.

At Kellogg, junior Frank Morden finished on the bubble last year as a potential state qualifier. The rest of the team is untested.

Kellogg coach Ben Castro noted that his team, Lakeland, Moscow and Priest River all finished within 20 seconds of one another at the Kellogg Invitational last week.

Three state qualifiers return at Priest River. Juniors Adam Merrifield (eighth), Cheyenne Ward (11th) and Lucas Blaine give the Spartans a solid nucleus.

Traditionally strong Moscow will be down. The Bears return seniors Mike Danahy, Robert Gleason and Kevin Chin.

The IML girls teams will be down, but each team has at least one strong runner.

Moscow is the favorite to take the district title. Lakeland, Bonners Ferry and Kellogg will battle for top-three placing.

Individual champion Yvonne Shea of Moscow, a senior, just turned out after spending the first three weeks of the school year as a cheerleader. Weisel expects she’ll regain form by season’s end.

Leading the Bears early has been freshman Jenny Liou. Other top runners are senior Emily Bockino and juniors Janel Falk and Carolyn Pharr.

Bonners Ferry returns senior Lany Dowell and junior Julie Anderson. The bulk of the Badgers are inexperienced.

Lakeland is led by senior Natalie Meyer, who hopes to return to state for the first time since her freshman year. Junior Alisa Bailey (eighth) was the Hawks’ lone state qualifier last year.

Kellogg is seeking a 10th straight trip to state. Senior Ali Leeds, a three-time state qualifier, leads the Wildcats.

Senior Teannell Leen (10th) is the top runner back for inexperienced Priest River.

St. Maries doesn’t field boys or girls teams, but two girls turned out. Sophomore Aree Stone, district runner-up last year, is out for the season after learning this week she has mononucleosis. Returning junior Melanie Lorenz will train by herself.

Sites for either league’s state-qualifying meets have yet to be set.

The state meets will be held Nov. 1 at Clear Lakes Country Club in Buhl.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo