Preview Cross country

Names to watch

Top returning state placers (top 20 earn medals): 5A – C.J. Helbling, sophomore, Lake City; Victoria Hokenson, senior, Lewiston (13th). 4A – Megan Bartlett, junior, Sandpoint (second); Kat Vardell, jr., Sandpoint (sixth); Vicky Vardell, jr., Sandpoint (eighth). 3A – Melody Braden, sr., Bonners Ferry (fourth); Mandy Sandaker, jr., Bonners Ferry (16th). 1A – Rory Ruskovich, soph., Coeur d’Alene Charter (11th); Alyssa Kim, soph., Coeur d’Alene Charter (15th).

Returning regional/district champs are Helbling (5A boys); Bartlett (4A girls); and Braden (3A girls).

Teams to watch

Defending regional/team champs are: 5A – Lake City boys and girls; 4A – Sandpoint boys and girls; 3A – Timberlake boys and Bonners Ferry girls; 2A – Coeur d’Alene Charter boys and Grangeville girls.

Off to eastern Idaho

The state meets will be held Oct. 27 at Freeman Park in Idaho Falls.

The top two boys and girls teams in 5A Region I, 4A Region I and 3A District I and the top two boys and winning girls team in 2A District I-II advance to state. The top one-third individuals also earn state berths.

Here are when the state-qualifying meets will be held: 5A/4A Region I – Oct. 18 at the University of Idaho golf course in Moscow; 3A District I – Oct. 19 at Mirror Lake Golf Course in Bonners Ferry.

Good things ahead

The Lake City boys return four of their top five who led the Timberwolves to fourth place and a trophy. LC coach Justin Taylor expects his team to be in the mix again for a trophy.

Mountain View captured the state title and Borah and Boise finished second and third. LC knocked off Borah at the Coaster Cross meet last Saturday at Silverwood.

“We finally got ‘em, but it’s not the place we’d like to get them,” Taylor said.

Taylor sees the top four teams challenging for the same spots at state.

“I think it’s any of those teams’ game this year,” Taylor said.

Along with Helbling, Taylor returns seniors John Coyle, Logan Frederickson, Gabe Downey and Sam Hoggatt.

“We’re a similar team to last year,” Taylor said. “We have as much or more potential as last year. They’re all a year older and experienced. That’s a big part of it.”

This ‘n’ that

Coeur d’Alene freshman Kinsey Gomez posted the ninth-fastest time in course history at the All-Valley Invite last Saturday. Gomez also had the fastest time for all age divisions during the meet.

In 3A, Bonners Ferry’s girls finished second behind Bear Lake last year.

Bear Lake is favored again, but the Badgers should be right on the Bears’ heels.