Big day for area runners

C.J. Helbling loves running on hills. That’s why the Lake City High sophomore has a passion for the Super 1/Farragut Invitational cross country meet.

Helbling broke from the starting line on the hilly 3.1-mile layout overlooking Lake Pend Oreille at Farragut State Park like he was in a 100-meter dash, sprinting away from the A field for his second straight Super 1 title Saturday.

Helbling blazed around Farragut in 16 minutes, 48.9 seconds, finishing more than 22 seconds ahead of Joey Ward of Newport (17:11.4).

“I wanted to go out on my own today, especially since there’s a bunch of hills,” Helbling said. “Hills are my strength because of (mountain biking). I’m pretty excited about how I ran.”

Helbling also blew away the course record set by Justin Rose of Colville (17:03) last year. The course was altered three years ago.

The old course had 200 meters less of climb in a key hilly section. That record was set by Cameron Schwerin of Mt. Spokane (16:31.7) in 2000.

“That was one of my goals today, but it wasn’t my main one,” Helbling said of breaking the course record. “I just wanted to run as hard as I could and see how much I could endure.”

Helbling set a strong pace for his teammates as the Timberwolves cruised to a second straight A title with 27 points. Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) was second with 45 and Coeur d’Alene was third (67).

Another young runner dominated the A girls race. CdA freshman Kinsey Gomez won her fourth race in as many starts, finishing in 19:28 – 30.9 seconds ahead of junior Megan Bartlett of Sandpoint, last year’s A winner.

North Central packed its first five finishers from seventh through 20th to capture the A girls title with 63 points, 11 ahead of Sandpoint.

A pair of Riverside runners took the B boys and girls championships – junior Amanda Wilson (21:37) and senior Mitch Chandler (17:17.2).

Riverside’s girls, who captured a state title two years ago and finished second last season, returned their top seven this year. Wilson led a pack of five who finished in the top 18.

Katie Reidy of St. George’s (21:46.3) passed Wilson going up Goat Hill, but Wilson sped past Reidy during the final 300 meters, a speedy downhill section.

“I could have gone faster, but I was trying to run a steady pace the whole time,” Wilson said.

Chandler was coming off a huge win at the Sept. 15 Highlander Invitational. For a second week he beat Colville’s Rose (17:30.9), who finished third behind teammate Jake Hastings (17:21.6). Rose, the B winner at Farragut last year, took third at state last season and is the top returning state placer.

As he crossed the finish line, Chandler collapsed. He had to be helped away from the line by his parents.

“I left it all out there,” a smiling Chandler said, still struggling to regain strength 10 minutes after the race. “This is pretty special because last year at this time I didn’t think I’d even touch him (Rose). I ran three or four races against him and I never saw him.

“This is a killer course but I like it. It’s true cross country. It’s not like track.”

Riverside’s girls won with 42 points, while St. George’s was second (57). Colville’s boys (33), the B winners last year, ran away from runner-up Riverside (86) to win.

“Mt. Spokane won the boys division of the Mountain West Classic at Missoula with a total of 141 points. Lewis and Clark (143) finished second. Also, Gonzaga Prep (325) placed ninth and Shadle Park (365) finished 12th.

Mt. Spokane’s Allan Schroeder (15:25) finished third overall and Trevin Goodrick (15:44) was ninth.

In the girls division, Mead (184) finished fourth overall, followed by LC (259) in fifth place. The Mead Panthers’ Baylee Mires (17:54) finished third.

“In other cross country action, Central Valley placed 11th in the girls elite division at the Bob Firman Invitational at Eagle Island State Park in Boise with 257 points. Eden Lake (19:35.97) finished 29th and Madi Barnes (19:40.84) placed 32nd for the Bears.

Also for CV, Breanna Barsten (20:19.91) placed 61st and Josie Warner (20:26.19) finished 66th.

West Valley placed third in the girls division two race with 108 points. Krystal Hughes (20:12.13) crossed the line third overall for the Eagles.

North Central finished second in the boys elite division with 124 points. Crater (Ore.) won with 121 points. Andrew Kimpel (15:58.18) placed sixth for NC. Also for NC, Leon Dean (16:06.17) crossed the line in 10th place. Mead’s Kelly Lynch (16:07.39) placed 11th. The Panthers finished in fourth place with 172 points, one more than third-place Orem, Utah.

West Valley finished second in the boys Division 1 race with 85 points. Richard Keroack won the race with a time of 16:41.72. Also for WV, Joey Hartmeier (17:06.06), finished 13th, Michael White (17:09.07) 15th and Justin Dengenhardt (17:13.84) 20th.

Volleyball

Host Garfield-Palouse cruised through pool play and defeated Tekoa-Oakesdale 24-26, 25-22, 15-11 in the championship of the Viking Classic at Palouse.