No. 1 NC heads strong field for Walters race

The second annual North Central Tracy Walters Trophy cross country race at Audubon Park gets an early start on the season at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, sporting a beefed-up lineup.

Seattle Prep, the prime challengers to the Indians this year for the boys State 3A championship, is in the field along with Portland power Central Catholic, said NC coach Jon Knight.

The two schools will have teams in both boys and girls races and will be joined by Mt. Spokane, Ferris, Central Valley and Richland in one or both of the races.

Trophies are awarded by the European Club method in which all participants from each school are scored and high total score determines winners.

There are also 10-person varsity (scoring eight) and junior varsity races.

NC is ranked No. 1 in the country by Harrier magazine; Seattle Prep is 23rd. Mt. Spokane is ranked third behind the two schools in the initial Washington 3A rankings.

The meet is named for the distance running pioneer who guided Gerry Lindgren to international distance fame during the 1960s while at Rogers High.

•Mead’s boys are ranked first in 4A and 18 other local school teams are ranked among the top 10 in their respective classifications.