Competition

So far, they’ve just been running.

Starting today, Spokane Valley girls cross country teams will be racing.

“I think we need to get a few races under our belts to see where we really are,” said longtime Central Valley girls coach Dennis McGuire.

It’s a cautious approach, the coach said. But in the Greater Spokane league, it’s pragmatic.

“Obviously, you’d like to go undefeated and win the GSL title,” McGuire said. “But what’s important, when you get right down to it, is how well you’re running at the end of the season, and that’s what we’re all aiming at.”

Once the starter’s pistol fires, then a team’s personality reveals itself.

“Absolutely,” University coach Chrissy Francek said. “That’s when you really find out what you have to work with.”

Cross country meets start today, with the All-Valley meet for some, the Cheney Invitational for others. The GSL league season kicks off Wednesday. East Valley races with Gonzaga Prep and Rogers at Mead. Central Valley and University both race with Shadle Park at Ferris.

Greater Spokane League

Central Valley Bears

Last year’s big, talented freshman class makes up the backbone of this year’s varsity.

“We have a good group out,” McGuire said. “Just look at what we had last year. We’ve got youngsters, but it’s a real talented group.”

The Bears will be powered primarily by sophomores.

Tristina Kline is running well and figures to be at the front of the varsity pack.

“She’s going to be one of our captains and a team leader just because of her work ethic,” McGuire said. “She and Eden Lake and Arianna Rios-Foucault and Erin Murphy all are just really good.”

Junior Camille Carter also has been running well.

“I’m not going to really know what I have until they start running races,” McGuire said. “But I have a good sized group, and it’s going to be fun picking and choosing.”

This year’s freshman class is thin in numbers but fairly typical in this sport, the coach said.

“I do have some good freshman athletes – some kids who were good track athletes at the middle school level,” he said. “They’re good athletically, and we’ll have to see how things shake out.”

Junior Melinda Miller, who ran at state a year ago, not only left the area, she left the country.

“She moved to London,” McGuire said. “We have a nice, diverse group. We have probably three starters from the basketball team that are out running with us, getting themselves in shape. I counted it up – 42 girls in all and one wheelchair athlete.”

Senior Crystal Horton is competing in the wheelchair division.

“She went all over this summer,” McGuire said. “She competed in Ireland and in Alabama or Georgia, and she has turned into quite the athlete.

“It’s been an eye-opener and a treat for me to be around her and to get to coach her.”

East Valley Knights

The Knights lost only two runners to graduation, but two more transferred out of the district, leaving the team young but talented.

Jo E. Mayer, the team’s No. 1 runner the past two seasons, is now battling for a spot on the Whitworth College cross country varsity.

“She sandbagged me a little when I talked to her a week ago,” longtime coach Nick Lazanis joked. “She said she ran 26th out of 25 runners. But when I saw race results, she ran fifth for Whitworth.

“She originally told me she wanted to be a dentist, but now she says she wants to teach math and coach. She’s trying to talk me into sticking around long enough so she can take over my job.”

Even with 32 years under his belt at East Valley, Lazanis is excited about his young group of runners.

Sophomore Lauren Bergam heads into the start of the season as the team’s No. 1 runner.

“She looks really strong,” the coach said. “She’s been very dedicated, and she ran a lot over the summer.”

Sophomores Devon and Mackenzi Borja both can run at the front of the East Valley pack, but both are battling hip problems that may slow their seasons. Junior Lori Bourgeous was last year’s No. 7 runner but easily could challenge for the No. 1 spot before the season ends.

“She has lots of speed. She’s a hurdler in track and ran on the mile relay team, so we know she has a set of wheels,” Lazanis said.

“I think she’s figured this sport (cross country) out. If the lead runners let her hang around until the end of the race, they could be looking at her back at the finish line.”

Lazanis had planned to have Evy Barbour around to lead this year’s squad, but the senior decided to transfer back to Valley Christian for her final year. Sophomore Elise Thatcher also transferred and is now battling for a spot on the University varsity.

Filling those two holes are freshman newcomers Samantha Gibson and Chelsey Denzin, who currently run No. 4 and 5 for the varsity.

Junior Morgan Dunning and sophomore Natalie Lowe round out the varsity.

University Titans

The twins are back for one last tour of the Greater Spokane League.

Karen and Katie Owens enter their fourth season on the U-Hi varsity in the same spot they held as freshmen – running in front.

This time, both are healthy.

“Both of them are running well,” Francek said. “In the past couple of years, Katie has had some injury problems. But she’s finally running injury free.”

The Owens sisters, along with Rachel Fridye and Alicia Johnston give the Titans a strong senior influence.

Leslie Berkseth had figured to be the fifth senior in that group, but she is unable to compete because of health problems.

“She’s still around, and she’s a great influence on this team,” Francek said.

Junior Skye Pearman Gillman subbed for Berkseth at last year’s regional meet and turned in an outstanding race.

“She came in as a sub and wound up scoring for us,” Francek said. “She was our No. 5 finisher, and I think she’s carrying on from there.”

Sophomores Maddy Fuchs, an impressive hurdler in track, Stevie Gildehaus, McCall Minarik, Maygen Evenson, Alita Judkins and Elise Thatcher all figure in the varsity mix.

“Alita ran on the junior varsity for us last year,” Francek said. “She got it in her mind that she was going to be on the varsity this year, and she has really worked hard to make that happen.”

Great Northern League

West Valley Eagles

The Eagles have a small group, with just eight girls out as the season gets under way, but coach Jim McLachlan figures his team can be pretty good in the Great Northern League.

“It sure looks familiar,” he said. “I don’t know yet how may (state meet) berths this league is going to get, but we have a shot at one.

“Riverside is the defending Class 2A champion and they have everyone back, and Colville should be pretty tough, too.”

Sophomore Krystal Hughes is running well and is the Eagles’ No. 1 runner.

“She’s pretty motivated – self motivated,” McLachlan said. “She did a good job training over the summer, and I think she understands this whole thing a little better.”

Freshman Alex Frazier is a first-time cross country runner but likely will start the season as No. 2.

“She was a soccer player – still is,” the coach said. “She’s still learning about cross country, but she’s in great shape and has a lot of stamina from playing so much soccer.”

Junior Camille Mackie and senior Kindra White both are running well.

“Kindra is showing some real promise,” McLachlan said. “She ran a good camp race and has real good ability.”

Senior Katie Junkins has recovered from a hip problem and will be a factor once she gets back into shape, and junior Morgan McQueen is in the same position after nursing a sore foot for the past month.

Freshmen Rachel Rubright and Sonida Monroy both ran well over the summer and will fit in on the varsity.

“When we do our camp, I always time this year’s team against last year’s team,” the coach said. “This year’s team beat last year’s team by a decisive margin.”