Lanker was part of runner’s prep for Olympic trials

Linda Lanker is pumped.

The University High School boys cross country coach, like a huge portion of the world television audience, is glued to her TV every night these past two weeks, watching with intense interest the Olympic Games from Athens.

But her excitement stems neither from her patriotism nor her lifelong love affair with track and field. Rather, her interest grows from familiarity.

Lanker saw the Olympic track team’s selection first-hand last month in Sacramento, Calif.

Lanker, who doubles as hurdles coach for the Community Colleges of Spokane, was asked to attend the trials as an athlete support person for former Washington State University assistant coach and All-American Francesca Green, a long jumper from Pasco.

“Each athlete gets to pick one athlete support person, and she asked me to be that for her,” Lanker said. “I got to go and I saw all the hurdle races, the 5,000 meters — it was all just unreal.”

Green jumped a personal record 21 feet ¾ inches at a meet July 3 to earn an invitation to the trials.

“I was able to bring my kids down and they got to see a lot of it first-hand, too,” Lanker said. “My daughter got to meet Evander Holyfield (former heavyweight boxing champion). She saw him and she said ‘Oh, he’s famous — I know him! I know him!’ “

Seeing the competition up close, Lanker saw something that network commentators missed: 100-meter champion Justin Gatlin.

“I predicted Justin Gatlin would win, but he didn’t have to act like that,” the coach said, disappointed by the sprinter’s total lack of humility while on the Olympics’ center stage. “It’s no wonder people see us as the ugly Americans, sometimes.

“Then again, you see Michael Phelps be so humble and give up his spot — it wasn’t about how many medals he gets. If he gets them, he gets them. It was about being part of a team. What a team player he is and what a humble young man.”

Lanker opened her second season as coach of the Titans Monday, welcoming 20 freshmen, with more likely on the way.

“We’ve had an average of between 20 and 24 kids show up every day this summer,” she said. “(Monday) we had 38 show up — and there are at least five that I know of who are still on vacation and haven’t showed up yet.

“I have baseball players, soccer players, wrestlers, athletes who look at this as their second sport. It’s neat to see them all come out.”

Knights hungry

East Valley girls cross country coach Nick Lazanis was pleased by the group of runners he welcomed at the Knights first workout Monday.

“We’ve had kids working out all summer,” he said. “But I think we’re going to be quite a bit better than we were before. How much better, I don’t know.”

The Knights drop from Class 4A to 3A this season, meaning the team will not compete against the majority of the Greater Spokane League to earn a berth in the state meet.

“I’ve always said that, if that’s the size we are, that’s where we should go,” he said. “As far as motivation goes, I think it would be good either way.”

East Valley and North Central join West Valley, Cheney and Clarkston to form the 3A contingent from the GSL. The league competes together during the regular season, but branch off to separate divisions in the postseason.

Pancho to coach

West Valley volleyball coach Drew Wendle has one of his best coaching friends close at hand, just not at his side.

Wendle, entering his third season as head coach of the Eagles, and former Sandpoint volleyball coach Jamie Pancho have been friends for a long time, comparing notes on their sport and on their respective approaches to coaching.

So when Pancho accepted the girls basketball coaching job at West Valley over the summer, was there any thought to working together?

“Not really,” Wendle said. “I already had my coaching staff together by that time and I’m really happy with the way things are going. But I’m pleased to have Jamie here, both as a coach and as a teacher.”

Pancho is an assistant to first-year head football coach Craig Whitney this fall.