North Central dominates with balance

PASCO – North Central cross country coach Jon Knight admits he’s a worrier and had a difficult week as the Indians put their finishing touches on preparations in their bid to repeat as boys State 3A champions.

His runners did their best to allay his fears.

Combining one of the lowest winning scores with one of the widest victory margins in meet history, the Indians obliterated the field 36-110 over Seattle Prep.

“I didn’t realize it. Was it really 36 to 110?” asked Knight.

Knight ticked off a litany of illnesses during the week to go along with season-long lingering injuries as a reason for his concern before this year’s race.

“It was the most nerve-wracking week I’ve had as a coach,” said Knight. “But the team ran very, very well.”

During sunny, mid-60 degree temperatures at Sun Willows Golf Course, NC put four runners among the top 10 to dispel any doubts their coach might have had.

Junior Andrew Kimpel may have lost ground early to eventual champion Ryan Prentice of Mt. Rainier, but by finishing second he set the tone for the triumph.

“Coach set a goal for me to finish first, second or third. I’m satisfied,” Kimpel said. “I knew Prentice was tough, but I gave it my best shot and went after it. He had too much of a lead and I didn’t respond.”

In the grander scheme of things, the smooth-running junior brought Steve Hicks, Leon Dean and Jeff Howard along with him to make short work of the rest of the field.

“We were hoping to get as many runners in the top 12 as possible and we got four,” said Kimpel, a junior. “That’s pretty impressive.”

Knight said that Hicks ran a great race. He added that the Indians came through even though Adam Tyler, who placed 15th last year, went home sick Wednesday and was a non-factor, and Alex Avila went on antibiotics Wednesday for an illness.

Avila, following encouragement from Andrew Wordell, was NC’s fifth scorer.

Knight said with a half-mile remaining, Wordell twice nudged Avila and told him to run for the team.

“It’ll sink in,” Knight said. “Maybe it’s a sign of a good team when you can make it appear easier than it is. They ran great and I’m immensely proud of them. We value the state meet. I told the kids this is the gold standard, right here.”

It wasn’t as good a day for the Greater Spokane League 3A girls. The best they did was Mt. Spokane’s sixth-place finish and Courtney Zalud’s 16th-place finish.