Gomez gears up to defend state title

Kinsey Gomez broke onto the Idaho high school cross country scene in a big way as a freshman last year by capturing the 5A state championship.

That immediately put a target on the Coeur d’Alene sophomore’s back coming into this season. How has she fared?

Gomez has run circles around all comers, and she could do the same Saturday at the state meet at Eagle Island State Park near Boise.

What advice does Coeur d’Alene coach Cathy Compton have for the field Saturday?

“They better come to play,” Compton said. “She’s on top of her game right now. She’s very focused and she very much wants this, and that’s 90 percent of the battle.”

Lake City senior Molly Mitchell is ranked second.

“Kinsey’s the girl to beat, no doubt. In fact, she’s a large favorite,” LC coach Justin Taylor said. “But Molly’s tough. She’ll give it everything she has on race day. She will lay it all on the line. If Kinsey falters at all, Molly will be lurking back there for sure.”

Gomez isn’t the only defending champion from the region. Sandpoint senior Megan Bartlett will be seeking a repeat in 4A.

Both Gomez and Bartlett have been ranked atop their respective classifications all season.

“She’s got a great chance to repeat,” Sandpoint coach Matt Brass said.

Lake City junior C.J. Helbling has been ranked second all season behind defending champ Eric Fitzpatrick of Boise.

Helbling has raced and trained cautiously this fall. He didn’t want to aggravate shin splints that nagged him during the track season. He split up his training, riding a bike as much as he ran.

Taylor expects Helbling to challenge Fitzpatrick.

“C.J. will be patient for the first half of the race and see what he has left the second half,” Taylor said.

Volleyball

All six state tournaments will be held in eastern Idaho beginning Friday.

•In 5A, Region I champ Coeur d’Alene (27-3) opens against first-year school Rocky Mountain of Meridian when the tourney begins at Hillcrest High School in Idaho Falls.

Two-time state champ Eagle (25-5) is favored, but the Vikings believe they can challenge. Region I runner-up Lewiston (17-14) opens against Eagle.

•In 4A, Sandpoint (25-2), which finished second last year, will take on Rigby (28-17) when the tourney begins at Skyline High School in Idaho Falls.

Defending champ Bonneville (36-1) enters with the best record.

•In 3A, District I-II champ St. Maries (21-6), which finished second last year, opens against Fruitland when the tourney begins at Bonneville High in Idaho Falls.

District I-II runner-up Priest River (17-8) opens against Snake River.

•In 1A Division I, Lakeside (13-0) of Plummer takes on Raft River when the tourney starts at Kimberly High School.

Coach resigns

Jen Kelly resigned Wednesday as Lake City’s volleyball coach after four seasons. The T-Wolves finished 11-20 this year and were a combined 67-55 under Kelly.

Kelly missed part of the season last year to have her first child. She returned to lead LC to fourth at state.

“We knew it was going to be a hard year,” Kelly said of balancing being a wife, mother, teacher and coach. “It just ended up being a little too much to be able to do it all.”

Kelly said she resigned so she could give the school plenty of time to find a replacement and make plans for next year.

“I want the girls to have the opportunity to have the best coach possible next year,” she said.