Coeur d’Alene girls cross country coach Cathy Compton has a good problem.

She has more capable runners than she has room for.

The Vikings cruised to the State 5A championship last fall and return six of seven runners – senior Noelle Ball, juniors Krista Story, Josie Brown, Kara Story and Clare Dumont and sophomore Emily Callahan.

And Compton reports that five other girls are pushing for the lone varsity vacancy.

CdA is loaded with depth and it goes back to last year. Compton believes her junior varsity team could have placed at state a year ago.

“It’s a good time for Coeur d’Alene cross country,” Compton said. “It was a tough decision on who we ran at state. I’m not doing anything. They’re doing it themselves. It would be neat to go on a run like some of those teams down south have done.”

Translation: Compton believes CdA could win multiple state titles.

“Last year was so much fun because we came in under the radar,” she said. “I love being in that position. But I also like being in this position where we have so much great talent. We’re solid and we’re deep.”

CdA has earned the attention.

The beauty of Compton’s team is it doesn’t have one standout runner above the pack.

“They run as a pack,” Compton said. “They’re all real solid. They’re such a team. That’s what won state last year, the team aspect.”

• In 4A, Sandpoint senior Sam Levora returns. After finishing runner-up last year, Levora plans to challenge for a state title this fall.

“He had a good summer training,” Sandpoint coach Matt Brass said. “He progressed his mileage up over the winter. He’s looking really good. He’s ahead of last year. He’s very self-motivated.”