Justin Janke has a distance-running lineage. And for the second time in two weeks he found himself rubbing elbows with one of the best in the nation, North Central teammate Tanner Anderson.

The pair ran side-by-side again in Wednesday’s Greater Spokane League meet, a tenth of a second second separating them at the finish leading the Indians to respective 22-35 and 18-45 wins over Central Valley and Mead at Audubon Park. The Bears beat Mead 20-38.

Janke’s mother – former NC state championship girls coach, Jan – and Weitz family aunts, uncle and cousins all were standouts. Not that there’s any pressure, mind you.

Per game plan, coach Jon Knight wanted his duo to put distance between themselves and the field and coast, what with the Bob Firman Invitational in Idaho coming up this weekend.

“We were worried about (CV’s) pack and how they’d do,” Knight said. “In dual meets if you go one-two it’s really difficult (for an opponent) to win. Once you get there you need only guy basically breaking up their top five.”

Janke and Anderson ran 15 minutes, 51 seconds and 15:52, respectively, to win over Mead’s Corbin Carlton (15:55). Andrew Vandine, though bothered with a balky calf, broke up three Bears. A trio of Indians, including sophomores Jacob Christner and Ash Ruff, finished before CV’s fifth scorer.

“Ash came through,” Knight said. “He ran a great race.”

Janke said that Anderson pushes him to get better.

“It’s just a blessing,” Janke said. “Tanner and I worked together, pushed each other and had a good time.”

Knight will be interested to see how Janke responds on a big stage this weekend.

CV’s Briton Demars was fourth in 16:05.

In the girls race, victorious CV was still without most of its regulars because of injury, but scored 25-34 and 20-38 wins over the Indians and Panthers. NC had a runner drop out or the meet score against the Bears could have been closer. NC beat Mead 18-45.

CV sophomore Gabrielle Ford won in 19:15, 4 seconds ahead of NC’s Kaelah Corrigan.

In other GSL races: The Shadle Park boys and girls beat visiting Rogers. The Pirates’ Roberto Lopez won the boys race and Highlander Ashley Hauger edged teammate Lauren Dunnell by a second, timing 18:42.

At Comstock Park, University’s boys remained undefeated, edging host Ferris 27-28 and Gonzaga Prep 23-32. Ferris topped the Bullpups 24-31. The Saxons’ Liam Cossette was the individual winner, followed by three Titans. Gonzaga’s girls won 27-30 and 21-37 over Ferris and U-Hi. Ferris beat the Titans. The Saxons’ Anisa Allaet won the race.

Mt. Spokane’s boys and girls beat their Lewis and Clark counterparts at Manito Park, 23-32 and 27-28, respectively. Brothers Hayden and John Dressel finished in a dead heat and Micaela Kostecka was the girls winner for the Wildcats.

GNL: Cheney swept the boys race 15-50 in Clarkston, with Steaven Zachman winning in 17:46. Cheney’s girls won 20-41, with Bantam Lindsey Heflin the individual champ in 20:16.