GSL Cross country

Boys

Mead: The Panthers are solid and deep. Two-time state veteran Taylor Nepon, a senior who ran 15:56 to finish sixth at state last year, is sidelined with a knee problem and coach Steve Kiesel hopes to have him ready by the postseason. Dylan Hatcher, who ran 16:12 at state, enters the season as the team’s No. 1. Seniors Ryan Bishop and Kelvin Daratha and junior Kelly Lunch all are state veterans, but feel a daily threat from a bevy of runners hungry to move up from the junior varsity. The unit finished fourth at the Nike Team Nationals.

Ferris: The top four runners for the three-time defending state champions, as a group, are one of the best in the country: Seniors Steven Olsen, Pat Maloney, Cameron Quackenbush and David Hickerson crossed the state finish line in 16:09, 16:12, 16:24 and 16:28, respectively. Junior Paul Hawkins ran 17:13 at state. The group finished 10th at the Nike Team Nationals.

Central Valley: The Bears were good heading into the summer with senior Sean Coyle, who qualified for state and ran 16:31 at Pasco. They got better when Tylor Thatcher, East Valley’s No. 1 runner a year ago, transferred in for his senior season. Thatcher placed fourth in last year’s Class 3A meet with a time of 16:16 at state.

Lewis and Clark: Seniors Darick Thompson, Graham Miller and Dao Crosby, and juniors Riley Myklebust and Mark Wall all return from last year’s state meet team.

University: Andrew Brown is one of the two top returning sophomores in the region.

North Central: Four runners return from the team that finished second at last year’s Class 3A meet: senior Andrew Scott, juniors Adam Tyler and Steve Hicks, and sophomore Leon Dean.

East Valley: Losing Thatcher to CV hurts, but two veterans return from last year’s fifth-place state team: seniors John Marlow and Brian Munns.

Girls

Central Valley: The Bears bring back six runners from last year’s sixth-place state team: juniors Jenna Peterson and Sara Stiles, and sophomores Ari Rios, Tris Kline and Eden Lake. Kline is poised to take over the team’s No. 1 slot.

University: Senior Karen Owens is a state veteran, running 20:45 at state a year ago. Her twin sister, Katie, is healthy for the first time in several years and is running well.

Gonzaga Prep: Senior Theresa Hailey ran 19:41 at state a year ago.

Lewis and Clark: Junior Eleanor Siler ran 19:45 at state last year for the Tigers.

Mt. Spokane: The Wildcats placed second at last year’s Class 4A meet and have six veterans from that team back to challenge for the Class 3A title: senior Jessica Klier, juniors Amy Pomante and Callie Runkel, and sophomores Courtney Zalud, Stephanie Inouye and Kacey Smith. Zalud is the team’s top returning placer, running 19:09 at Pasco.

North Central: Five state veterans are back from the team that placed ninth at last year’s meet: seniors Mary Graesser and Lauren Harris, junior Lea Osborn, and sophomores Rachel Ballard and Maddie McGee.

East Valley: Sophomore Lauren Bergam is EV’s No. 1 runner going into the season and leads a group of three state meet veterans that includes junior Lori Bourgeous and sophomore Devon Borja.