Mead boys capture title
Mead’s boys cross country team is built for the long haul. It helped them Wednesday while wresting the Greater Spokane League championship away from Ferris.
The Panthers defeated the Saxons 24-33 by taking advantage of their endurance over the final one-third of the Rogers High 5,000-meter course located in Riverside State Park just off Seven-Mile Road.
“The kids know the big move for this particular team is to endure over that last mile,” said Mead coach Pat Tyson. “That’s what they’ve done all season. They tend to pass more kids at the end of a race than most teams.”
The score, Tyson added, did not reflect how close the meet was, and he gave credit to the Saxons for coming in ready to compete.
A little more than a half-mile into the race, you could have thrown a blanket over the Panthers and Saxons runners and most of North Central’s, as well, in the end-of-season GSL showcase.
Just beyond the race’s midpoint there was a little separation as Mead (13-0) and Ferris (12-1) alternated places behind Saxon Robert Cosby, who proved uncatchable individually.
But as the length of the race, which includes two uphill loops, began to take its toll on the runners, Mead held form.
Dylan Hatcher and Taylor Nepon continued their tendency to run in tandem, chasing each other to the finish chute 8 seconds behind Cosby’s 15:44 winning time.
“A lot of great Mead teams have come in pairs,” said Hatcher, who finished just in front of his teammate. “We always watched Evan (Garber) and Laef (Barnes) when we were freshmen. Me and Taylor are starting to get that.”
Until this year Hatcher chased Nepon. Now, as juniors, it’s been his turn.
“He’s surpassed me this year,” Nepon admitted. “I’ve beaten him a few times, but he’s beat me more.”
With five others, including fifth-place overall finisher Steven Gimpel, not far behind, the Panthers were not to be beaten in the GSL title showdown.
“I was a little freaked out by Steven taking the lead early,” said Tyson. “It was a little unique for him because he’s not a front runner. But he didn’t panic and held his position at the end to help our team.”
Both Mead and Ferris beat NC (10-3), and all three topped host Rogers (2-11).
In other boys meets, Mt. Spokane (11-2) finished third in the GSL with wins over Lewis and Clark (7-6), Cheney (1-12) and Clarkston (0-13). Mt. Spokane’s Mike Hartanov outdueled LC’s Ryan Zentz for individual honors at Manito Park. … At Plantes Ferry Park, Central Valley (9-4) beat University (6-7) and Gonzaga Prep (3-10). Sean Coyle was individual winner by 24 seconds as CV won the individual battles within the race. … West Valley (7-6) topped Shadle Park (6-7) 26-31 and East Valley (4-9) 27-30 in a close meet at Shadle. The host Highlanders won the sixth-runner tiebreaker after deadlocking with the Knights 28-28. EV’s Nick Atwood, in 15:31, and Tyler Thatcher, however, went 1-2 in the race.
Girls
Ferris senior Becky Mackelprang has emerged as one of the league’s top runners in just her second year of cross country. She tamed the Seven-Mile course in 19:02. Mead (11-2), however, edged North Central (11-2) 27-31, Ferris (5-8) and Rogers (1-12). The outcome created a three-way second place GSL tie among the Panthers, Indians and Central Valley. “It’s an amazing course,” said Mackelprang. “I loved it last year when I raced here, and I love it this year. On the trails you feel like you’re flying, and it’s just so easy to keep going fast.” NC had the third- through fifth-place finishers behind Mackelprang and Mead’s Ryan Torpie. But the Panthers placed their next five runners ahead of NC’s fourth finisher for the win. … Elsewhere, GSL champion Mt. Spokane (13-0) guaranteed its third straight unbeaten season with a 1-2-3 individual finish to beat Lewis and Clark (9-4), Cheney (4-9) and Clarkston (0-13). … CV (11-2) topped University (7-6) as race winner Anna Layman and teammates Tris Kline and Melinda Miller all finished ahead of the first U-Hi runner to assure victory. Both teams beat Gonzaga Prep (3-11). … EV (8-5) topped host Shadle Park (6-7) and WV (2-11) by placing three of the top five finishers, behind the individual race winner, Shadle’s Cami Nelson.