East Valley Going For Four In A Row

Frontier girls cross country

An unprecedented fourth straight state girls cross country championship for East Valley is not a foregone conclusion.

“Maybe it’s a jinx number,” said Knight coach Nick Lazanis, alluding to the fact no girls team has gone beyond a trio of titles.

It’s not out of the question, either.

“This year’s team is probably better than any of the previous three,” marveled WV’s Jim McLachlan. “Those girls are phenoms.”

The girls he’s referring to aren’t the four returnees from last year’s titlists, two of whom are fourth-year varsity competitors.

He’s talking about twin freshmen who have made the Knights tougher than ever.

“We now have six who can run at the state level,” said Lazanis. “The girls know what they want. I think if we run to our potential and stay healthy we can do it.”

Last weekend the Knights lost to Newport of Bellevue, another 3A school, during the Shoreline Invitational.

“Newport might have done us a favor,” said Lazanis. “They now know people are out there. It motivated them.”

Freshmen help beef up

Knights Senior co-captains Cara Smith and Ann Marie Adams, members of the previous three state title teams, are back for a fourth attempt.

Junior Korinda Godwin is in her third year with the varsity and sophomore Crystal Gerky is a second-year team member.

But it’s the addition of twin sisters Melanie and Melissa Frostad that excites Lazanis.

“They’ve got jet fuel in them,” he said. “I don’t know where they’ll end up, they don’t know how to race yet. But they’re not afraid to go right to the front.”

Indeed, Melanie has run No. 1 for the team in two meets to date and Melissa has run either No. 3 or 4 behind Adams and with Godwin.

Smith, 10th in state last year and EV’s top finisher, has so far been the Knight sixth runner.

She’ll improve, said Lazanis, and with Adams provides leadership.

“They’re like sisters,” he said. “Their doing a good job pulling the team together.”

Rounding out the team are sophomore Joann Adams, and injury-prone senior Carmen Cook.

Prospects include sophomores Michelle Estell, Missa Heid, Minji da Silva, Kelli Wasson, Kayloni Zamora, freshmen Alyson Mahan and Christine Walsh.

With fewer league races and another state challenge in the offing, EV has beefed up its schedule with five major invitationals.

“I hope it helps,” said Lazanis. “We may not win as many, but I think it will be better for us.”

Eagles missing four-year star

For the first time in four years WV is without distance star Jessica Riehle, who is now at Boise State.

But four others from last year’s team return.

Included is junior Jessica Ferguson, who last season was 49th in state.

Also returned are state veteran seniors Cori Watke and Madeline McNeill and squad member Missy Baca.

“Madeline’s healthy for the first time and ran 1-1/2 minutes faster than last year at All-Valley,” said McLachlan.

Another state vet, Casey Lounder decided not to turn out. Her freshman sister Kelsie Lounder, winner of her age group at the All-Valley meet, has taken her place.

“Kelsie is very motivated,” said McLachlan. “She, Jessica and Madeline are within 12-15 seconds of each other.”

Three other freshmen, Shauna Honcoop, Jaime Peterson and Kelly Cole are vying for varsity.

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