NC makes it three
Indians score meet-record 24 points; Shadle Park’s Nelson repeats
North Central runners, including Andrew Kimpel, right, keep up with the pack early in the 3A State Championship cross country race. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
PASCO – The sun made an appearance to illuminate a rainbow in the background Saturday afternoon at Sun Willows Golf Course as the North Central Indians took the awards podium to accept another State 3A cross country state championship.
The scene couldn’t have been more appropriate for seven racers whom coach Jon Knight called heroes to their community.
For three years in a row, seniors Andrew Kimpel, Jeff Howard and Leon Dean have been champions and they, along with junior newcomer Ben Johnston, finished second through fifth as NC scored a 3A meet-record 24 points to beat runner-up Seattle Prep’s 74 – second only to Mead’s 20 in 1992.
The four were joined by second-year varsity runner Alex Avila, a junior who finished 11th.
“They are just the highest-quality young men,” Knight said of his seniors and team. “I told them, ‘You don’t realize how many people this makes a difference for, to wake up and read about it. It means something to them and you are heroes.’ That’s just an honor.”
They, along with repeat state girls champion Andrea Nelson of Shadle Park, carried the day for Greater Spokane League 3A distance runners. Mt. Spokane’s girls brought home a third-place trophy, coming close to a title, and the Wildcats’ Allan Schroeder medaled in ninth place.
Boys
It was a hectic week for the Indians despite their dominance at state. Kimpel, Dean and Avila came down sick. Two others, including Howard, had their car run into on the way to practice, although neither was injured.
“It was a crazy week with Andy running a temperature Thursday night and Alex in a tent (after the race) getting oxygen,” Knight said.
The illness might have cost Kimpel his title. Mt. Rainier’s Michael Miller beat him with a late move and 7-second win.
NC’s top five were bunched among four other runners with less than a mile remaining in the race. The four timed between 15:25 and 15:40 to follow Miller into the finish chute. Johnston got past Dean for third.
“Ben lost his wallet and I said, ‘Quit worrying about the money, I’ll buy dinner if you get up there,’ ” Knight said. “Apparently it worked.”
Dean said he didn’t have the race he wanted, but three years ago he wouldn’t have thought this could have happened.
“Last year when we won state, it was the first time any NC team in any sport had won two in a row. To win it three times is pretty special,” he said. “I think I’ve done my part on the team, but I wouldn’t be here without them. In a way they wouldn’t be here without me. We needed everyone on the team and it’s worked out nicely.”
That sums it up for a group that has dedicated itself year-round and done the work it took to succeed.
Girls
The Andrea Nelson of two years ago is nothing like the Andrea Nelson of today. She’s some 7 inches taller, 25 pounds heavier and running in a new classification.
But the end result has been much the same, as was the broad smile she exhibited at the finish after running a second faster than last year’s championship win.
She said it was an up-and-down season in which she either felt sick or did something “dumb” on the weekend of every invitational. Because of her growth spurt, coach Bob Isitt said her recovery time from workouts wasn’t as quick as it had been when she was 4-foot-11, 95 pounds.
“It was weird,” Nelson said of her season. “I kind of relearned how to race.”
Nelson’s state effort was the Nelson of old. She forced the pace as is her custom, and won by 10 seconds in 18:25, one of the top-five fastest times on the course in Pasco.
“It was sure different standing on the starting line and looking at everybody,” she said of the new field of runners. “But there was great competition in this race. I felt really good and it was fun.”
Mt. Spokane’s Courtney Zalud finished 10th, but there were changes in the typical positioning of teammates behind her. Sophomore Afton McKinlay was 24th, placing ahead of freshman Molly Cole (32nd) and junior Sarah Craig (39th). The Wildcats finished with 137 points, three out of second place and behind winner Mercer Island’s 115.
“We came here to win it,” coach Sean Linder said. “We had a great season for as many new kids on the team.”