O’Reilly back in the running at Highlander

Of the seasons, fall has been the cruelest for Mt. Spokane star Megan O’Reilly during a superb four-year distance career.

O’Reilly is a two-time 3,200-meter champion and six-time medalist in state track during the spring.

Except for her third-place state finish as a sophomore, cross country has ended in a washout. She didn’t finish the race as a freshman. Last year she was injured and couldn’t compete.

But if O’Reilly’s determined, near-record effort at Saturday’s 42nd Highlander Invitational is any indication, this year, knock on wood, can be different.

She scorched the 2.5-mile Shadle Park course in 13 minutes, 53 seconds, just a second away from Flathead phenomenon Zoe Nelson’s 2003 record that at the time seemed untouchable.

Nelson, during that race, beat O’Reilly by 51 seconds and the mark was 36 seconds faster than the previous record, set by Rogers standout Jessica Fry in 1993.

The weather was unseasonably cool and overcast with some rain before giving way to comfortable and sunny conditions as the last race of the day ended at 1 p.m.

This year’s Highlander was one of records and near records, and in the boys junior and senior races, pitting runners from Ferris and Mead, the Saxons showed why they are two-time state champions.

Ferris individuals won both races, and the Saxons, in an age group where both teams have the most talent and depth, won the junior team title 18 to 23 over the Panthers.

Colville sophomore Justin Rose and his amazing multicolored dream hair, ran 12:55 for a four-second improvement on Shadle Park athlete Peter Miller’s record that lasted just one year.

Another Colville runner, Brittney Williams, lopped 10 seconds of the combined girls race record of 16:00 set in 2000 by Mead’s Cami Denholm in 1994. Her teammate, Columbia (Hunters) transfer Nikkol Sipes was also under the old mark.

North Central’s Rachel Ballard was a second off the freshman record.

“It’s been quite a workout for me,” admitted O’Reilly when the subject of her cross country disappointments was broached. “Something has always gone wrong.”

Not in this race, which she won by more than a minute over Brooke Andrus of Big Fork, Mont., who tied for the sixth-fastest time ever in 14:57.

“I wanted to break 14 minutes and I did,” O’Reilly said after her easy win. “If I broke the record or even was close or tied, I’ll be very, very happy.”

For years, Ferris avoided the Highlander to keep rival Mead wondering, said coach Mike Hadway.

“It didn’t work so I just said we were going to go at them,” he said.

The junior boys’ race was the feature and Ferris set the pace with four runners while three Mead juniors and Richland’s Tyler Noland kept in close contact.

After Noland briefly took the lead, Saxons David Hickerson and Steven Olsen forced the issue. Olsen, clocking 12:38 for the third-fastest junior time ever, ultimately held off the Panthers’ Taylor Nepon, by a second, and Dylan Hatcher.

Hickerson was fourth, with teammates Cameron Quackenbush sixth and Pat Maloney seventh.

“I’m very happy with the win,” Olsen said. “(Both teams) wanted to be there equally. It’s early in the season and you don’t know how it’s going to turn out later.”

Robert Cosby, who beat Mead’s Brian Palmer by seven seconds in the senior race, said the focus for Ferris was on winning the junior race, “which was awesome. For me it’s kind of individual.”

The first half mile he sat back and since no one was taking the lead he did so.

“Once I go I usually don’t play games,” said Cosby, who timed 12:39.

Colville’s Rose stood out during his sophomore record effort, blond hair done up in a number multicolored pony tails, with help from a female friend.

“She said it would be awesome if I had highlights,” Rose said.

His race was an awesome highlight, too. “I’m surprised I got it,” he said. “When I got done I was the happiest man in the world.”

His Colville girls team counterparts, Williams and Sipes, clocked 15:50 and 15:57 respectively in the combined race.

NC’s Ballard ran 16:11 to nip Richland’s Annie McDonald by two seconds in the girls freshmen race.

Freshmen boys winner Jordan Curnutt of Mead won in 13:33.

University runner-up Anthony Brown, seven seconds back, took a wrong turn and went 100 meters out of his way, said Titans coach, Linda Lanker.

Mead won the senior boys race 49-51 over Mt. Spokane and easily won the sophomore and freshmen boys races as well with 34 and 32 points, respectively.

Mead’s girls beat Mt. Spokane 102-107 in the varsity girls race, U-Hi won the combined girls race and Kamiakin the freshmen girls race, by two points over Richland.