Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Lagrimanta wins gracefully


Lagrimanta
 (The Spokesman-Review)
Mike Saunders Correspondent

The woods are lonely, dark and deep, and Timberlake’s Frank Lagrimanta has miles to go before he sleeps.

That’s 3.1 miles, to be exact.

Lagrimanta has been poetry in motion running cross country in his first season: His long, graceful stride can only be described as beautiful.

Friday it carried him through the trees and hilly terrain at Stoneridge to an individual title and helped his team to the 3A District I title. If he has his way, it will carry him to a state title Saturday at Eagle Island State Park near Boise.

The shaggy-haired junior’s time of 17 minutes, 4 seconds at district is far from his personal best, but there was nobody in the field to push him.

All that will change at state.

“Eagle Island is supposed to be relatively flat, so I’m trying to get to a 16:45 – I’m going to run to win,” said Lagrimanta, who is ranked No. 1 in the state just ahead of McCall-Donnelly’s Ian Faurot. “There’s a lot of pressure when you’re expected to win, though, and, of course, there’s going to be some pretty tough competition.”

Timberlake put five runners in the top six at districts.

Lagrimanta, knowing a little about whom the Tigers will face at state, is cautiously optimistic.

“We’re ranked third, but we’re hopefully going to get second or first,” Lagrimanta said. “Those Bear Lake kids are strong, but we’re really wanting to get first or second and if we’re going to, this is the year to do it.”

He pointed to the guidance of Timberlake coach Shawn Lawler as the main reason for the program’s success.

“He’s an awesome coach – a 3A school doesn’t deserve him,” said Lagrimanta, who also runs the 1,600 and 3,200 meters for the track team. “Basically, he’s there all the time, six days a week.

“He makes us run what we can run, every day, not what we want to run.”

Lawler returns the compliments.

“Frank Lagrimanta has what it takes to be a champion. He’s a hard worker and he’s not afraid to hurt,” Lawler said. “A champion rises to the level of their competition, and that’s Frank Lagrimanta right there.”

So, is Lagrimanta planning on a college running career in fall 2007?

“Oh, yeah,” said Lagrimanta, who is interested in engineering and fancies Montana State in Bozeman as a possible destination. “There’s no way I could give up running so fast.”