University boys seek state spot

In the world of high school cross country in the Greater Spokane area, being good simply isn’t good enough.

Good teams – teams good enough to win championships in most leagues in other parts of the state – may collect as many as two or three wins during the Greater Spokane League season.

“I think we saw that this year (in Class 3A),” University boys cross country coach Mike Barbero said. “I think Mt. Spokane was probably a team that could finish in the Top 5 at the state meet, and they couldn’t get out of our league.”

Barbero knows. He’s had good teams during his five seasons at U-Hi. But when you’re going up against multiple league rivals boasting national rankings year in and year out, good doesn’t take you into the post season.

“That’s just the way it is in the Greater Spokane League,” he shrugs. “We talk about it. You could take our 2-and-6 team and put them in any other league and they would be a league champion, but we don’t want to do that. We want to compete against the best, and the best are right here in our own league.”

Barbero’s Titans are in Wenatchee today, running in the Class 3A Eastern Regional meet. The weather report calls for cold and wet, making the Walla Walla Point Park course more of a challenge, but the coach is feeling warm and secure.

“I think the pressure was really on us last week (in the GSL meet),” he said. “North Central is the top-ranked team in the state and Mt. Spokane was really good. The pressure was on us to finish second because only two teams advanced to regionals. Now the pressure is off of us. There are three strong teams in the regional and three teams advance.

“As long as we run our race and perform the way we’re capable of performing, we’re going to be OK.”

To be accurate, the top three ranked Class 3A teams in the state, North Central, University and Kamiakin, are entered in this weekend’s regional meet. Top-ranked NC is the favorite, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing for the second-ranked Titans. Given the choice, Barbero said, he’d much rather be the hunter than the hunted this time of year.

“Oh, absolutely – it’s so much harder when you have the target on your back,” he said. “Our guys aren’t afraid of NC. They know NC. They know what they have to do to beat NC.”

It’s a tall order. North Central goes for its fifth straight state Class 3A title, and the team has placed first or second every season since 2004.

Barbero and his Titans are used to such tasks. This may be the team’s first season competing in Class 3A, but it’s nothing new.

In the storied Class 4A championships, Greater Spokane League teams Ferris, Mead and University won every state championship since 1988 – a string that could be challenged this year by an outstanding team from Eisenhower of Yakima, the No. 1-ranked team in the state going into this weekend’s regional meets.

University teams won three straight state titles, in 1997, 1998 and 1999, under Barbero’s dad, hall of fame coach Bob Barbero, who now coaches at West Valley.

“It’s going to be up to Lewis and Clark (ranked No. 2) and Mead (ranked No. 5) to keep the string going,” Barbero said. “Ike is a very good team, but anything can happen at the state meet.”

Barbero’s Titans enter today’s race in Wenatchee with a senior-laden squad, but one with perhaps an iffy lineup. Senior Jon Smith, the team’s No. 1 runner all season, missed several days of school and several practice runs this past week with a cold.

“It’s possible that we’ll have to go without him,” Barbero said Thursday. “He’s back in school today, but we’re not sure how he is just yet. If he can’t go, we have a strong runner to put in. I think we have the deepest roster in the state right now, so I feel good about how we’ll do.”

The team’s No. 2 runner, senior Christian Bucko, is ready to step up and lead if necessary, he said. When healthy, the Titans send out five seniors on this year’s varsity. Having that level of experience helps when the weather turns balky.

“I think when you have that many seniors, bad weather becomes less of a factor,” Barbero said. “Mentally, you have to be prepared for whatever conditions you find. We’ve talked about it as a team; about how weather can be a factor, but also about why it shouldn’t.

“I’m confident that we’re going to run the best we can given whatever situation presents itself. We’re ready to go.”