Mead boys, girls hand Wildcats first losses

It was “two-fer” Wednesday for the Mead Panthers, whose boys and girls, led by race winners Baylee Mires and Kelly Lynch, swept past district rival Mt. Spokane and Gonzaga Prep in Greater Spokane League cross country.

Both Mt. Spokane teams entered the race unbeaten before freshman Mires ran 19 minutes, 36 seconds in Mead’s 22-33 win over the Wildcats and Bullpups, and Lynch led seven Panthers, who finished among the top nine placers leading to 22-39 victory

Mead’s girls also beat G-Prep 17-38 and the boys won 15-50 over the Bullpups.

Mead’s girls (6-1) moved past Mt. Spokane (5-1) – winner 21-34 over G-Prep (3-4) – into second place behind unbeaten Central Valley. The boys (5-2) are fourth behind unbeaten North Central, CV and the Wildcats (5-1), who beat the Bullpups (3-4) 18-43.

Girls

Mires, who has been successful in age-group track, finishing fifth nationally at 1,500 meters two summers ago, didn’t know how that would translate into a race twice as long.

“I just expected, since I was a freshman, to go out there and run, be an unknown and have the time to experience things,” she said. “I really came in blind.”

Right now she’s one of the league’s top two girls runners.

Three Panthers and three Wildcats went out together, but Mires and teammate Sara Stenerson pulled away to finish 1-2. Mead had its five scorers in the top nine for the easy win.

“It’s been a while since we’ve beaten them,” said Mead coach Dori Robertson. “We always know Mt. Spokane comes to race. They latch on (to you) and get hungry. It scared me a little bit.”

Having Mires and some other new runners who are making strides provided an antidote.

“I was expecting it to be difficult,” Mires said of the sport. “I actually like running 3.1 (miles) better now.”

Elsewhere, Eden Lake and freshman Madi Barnes went 1-2 in the host Central Valley Bears’ (6-0) 20-40 win over Lewis and Clark (4-2). … East Valley’s Lauren Bergam ran 20:23 to win at Liberty Lake County Park, but University (4-2) had enough depth in 25-30 and 22-33 wins over EV’s Knights (1-5) and Ferris (1-6). EV beat the Saxons 24-31. … Andrea Nelson timed 18:41 to win by 54 seconds and her Shadle Park Highlanders (3-3) beat North Central (2-4) 23-33 and Rogers (0-7) 16-47 at Audubon Park. NC beat the Pirates 18-45.

Boys

Lynch, one of the state’s top returning seniors, surged on up-and-coming Wildcat Allan Schroeder before the 2-mile mark to take the lead and held on for a 3-second triumph, 16:07 to 16:10.

“The plan was going out and running whatever it takes to win,” said Lynch. “I just focused on him not getting the lead and pushing the last mile.”

Mead had six of the next seven finishers, with times between 16:33 and 17:15.

“That definitely surprised me. They’re a good team,” said Mead coach Steve Kiesel of the ease of victory. “I just like the fact that we’re starting to get that gap a little closer and a little closer, so we’re on target.”

In other races, Bryce Aguilar and Andrew Cesal went 1-2 for CV (5-1) at home in a 24-35 win over LC (4-2). The Bears had seven top-10 placers even without two of their top runners. … At Liberty Lake County Park, Ferris sophomore Adam Thorne and senior Paul Hawkins finished 1 second apart and the Saxons (3-4) won 18-43 and 18-45 over University (2-4) and East Valley (0-6). The Titans topped EV 20-41. … At Audubon Park, NC (6-0) had the top six finishers, separated by 37 seconds, in 15-48 and 15-49 wins over Shadle Park (2-4) and Rogers (0-7). The Highlanders beat Rogers 16-47.