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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Shadle girls display depth

Saving themselves for Saturday, Shadle Park’s girls cross country runners nonetheless showed why they are the Greater Spokane League favorites.

Running in pairs, the Highlanders turned in a three-tiered romp over previously unbeaten Central Valley and Gonzaga Prep as well as University at Finch Arboretum on Wednesday to improve to 6-0.

Shadle defeated CV (5-1) 18-30, G-Prep (3-3) 18-41 and University (2-4) 15-48. CV won three times, including in a 28-28 sixth-runner tiebreaker over improved Ferris (3-3).

“It doesn’t mean we’re that bad,” CV coach Dennis McGuire said. “They (Shadle) are really, really good. I’m glad they are 3A.”

Shadle’s first tier, Andrea Nelson and Katie Morris, who has normally run third for the Highlanders, finished well in front, timing 20 minutes, 20 seconds.

“Andrea was leading and I was supposed to stay with her pace,” Morris said. “Our week has been focused mainly on a weekend meet.”

The second tier, Kendra Weitz and Chelsea Chandler, clocked 21:08 as part of a three-way knot with CV’s Jamie Lambie, placing fifth and sixth behind G-Prep third-placer Alicia Doohan (20:44). Shayle Dezellem and Megan Inman came next for Shadle in 21:34 and 21:35.

Shadle coach Bob Isitt said he ordered a tempo run because of Saturday’s Mountain West Classic in Missoula. He said he was worried about Finch’s degree of difficulty and CV.

In other girls meets, Mead’s Baylee Mires finished in 18:49 over 5,000 meters as the Panthers (4-1) rolled past North Central (1-3) 24-35 and Rogers (0-5) 15-50 at Seven Mile. NC’s Katie Knight was second in 19:22. … At Siemers Farm, Callie Vanderwilde raced to a victory in 21:33 to guide Lewis and Clark (2-3) to victories over Mt. Spokane (2-2) 26-29 and East Valley (1-4) 22-33.

Boys

Unbeaten Ferris (6-0) competed without No. 1 runner Adam Thorne with the Stanford Invitational coming up, but the Saxons breezed past Gonzaga Prep (4-2) 21-38, University (5-1) 19-40 and Central Valley (1-5) 14-46. Ferris’ Alex Kimsey edged Shadle’s Nathan Weitz by 1 second in 16:56 and the Saxons had the next three finishers all within 11 seconds of the lead. … Ben Johnston clocked 16:14 and led NC (4-0) past Rogers (0-5) 15-50 and Mead (3-2) 20-39. Mead’s Andrew Gardner was second in 16:25. … Mt. Spokane’s Allan Schroeder (16:29) and Hunter Johnson (16:45) finished 1-2 over 5,000 to lead the Wildcats (3-1) past LC (2-3) and EV (1-4).