Trailblazer set the pace

When she was just a freshman, Shiloh Deitz basked in the glow as Mt. Spokane’s inaugural girls distance star and first state cross country qualifier. But as the limelight shifted, Deitz has shifted her perspective as well.

While running is still a priority, her involvement in church, family and — ever the pioneer — as Mt. Spokane’s first ASB president, divides her time.

“I try to keep as balanced in life as possible,” said Deitz. “I’m working toward learning from whatever happens.”

Distance running remains a big part of her life, and that of her family. Her father Craig is the successful Mt. Spokane boys coach. The family, including her mother Jane and three brothers, all run. Like family, team rather than individual accomplishments have become most important.

Deitz is entering her fourth year of a stellar career. Although she may be the school’s No. 2 runner, behind junior Megan O’Reilly, who supplanted her after her freshman season, she will be remembered as the pacesetter in the Wildcats’ rise in cross country status in the Greater Spokane League.

“She made state as a freshman and has been there every year,” said Wildcats coach Bob Barbero. “She’s kind of the one who set the standard for our program.”

Mt. Spokane is the defending GSL champion, seeking its second consecutive GSL title and chasing a state trophy.

“We talked about it this year,” said Deitz. “When we started out it was an individual thing. It has evolved into working together as a team, lifting each other up and depending so much on each other. It’s a nice transition.”

O’Reilly is a state champion track athlete. Deitz and fellow seniors Jenny Smith and Jill Keller, also in their fourth seasons, have been instrumental in Mt. Spokane’s rise to a GSL power.

They will begin defense of their league title Wednesday at Mead against expected contenders Mead and University, along with Ferris.

“We’re looking pretty good,” said Barbero. “With the horses back, we should be in good position.”

At the same time the GSL boys title could be decided when defending state champion Ferris takes on relatively untested defending league champion Mead.

“I don’t know where our guys are at,” said Ferris coach Mike Hadway of his national fourth-ranked team, “but 12 worked really hard over the summer, the most I’ve had. I think we can repeat.”

Deitz’s running career was influenced by the runs her family would take together while she was growing up.

“It was not that you needed to run, it’s just what we do,” she said. “If I didn’t run I’d be kind of left out. If I sat home, what would I do?”

But she had to choose between soccer and distance running and eventually settled on the latter a year before arrival at Mt. Spokane. That freshman year she finished 17th in regionals, half a minute ahead of Smith, and in her first state appearance ran 19 minutes, 43 seconds for 25th.

“I do remember I was so nervous when the starting time came,” she said. “We have footage of my crying because I was so nervous.”

It was the first of three consecutive state appearances. She moved up to eighth in regional, timing 18:52, and 14th in state, in 19:18, as a sophomore.

Was it difficult, she was asked, being supplanted at No. 1 by O’Reilly?

“I think there was a time when I was going into my sophomore year where it was a little bit like, this is my spot,” she admitted. “But it’s not really a big deal any more. She’s very good.”

What made last year special, she said, was that the entire team competed in Pasco.

“It was the first time girls cross country went to state,” she said. “It was exciting to be there as a team doing our usual warm-up together.”

Deitz’s career, she said, has had its joys and disappointments. Because of her faith, however, she’s never been one to dwell on the highs or lows.

“When you have that as your focus,” she said, “little things aren’t as big a deal. The lows have taught me much more than if I’d sailed through and won every race.”

Her plans are to attend a small college and continue her running career.

In the meantime, her task is to help the team, currently ranked third in state, return to Pasco and, this time, trophy.