Area prep cross country glances

GSL BOYS

If there’s a year that North Central’s string of state championships might be in jeopardy – now a state-record 10 – it’s this season. Coach Jon Knight recalls the Indians winning with a pack mentality back in 2008, but every runner in that pack challenged to be the team’s No. 1 runner.

The Indians don’t have an established No. 1 this year. The closest one to it is senior Jacob Christner. NC’s top returner, Christner finished 19th at state last year. NC has just two other state returners in senior Ryan Frostad and junior Markus Taylor. Still, the Indians are favored to capture the state title.

Mt. Spokane senior Hayden Dressel is the top returning State 3A placer. He took seventh last year and is eying an individual state title this fall. There’s a big gap between Dressel and the rest of the Wildcats. Still, coach Pat Kostecka expects much improvement.

Rogers graduated Roberto Lopez but brings back four starters led by senior Johnny Murray. They also have some promising young runners, coach Ken Bell said.

In 4A, Central Valley and Lewis and Clark will battle for supremacy and with NC for the league title. LC returns three state qualifiers, led by senior Zak Kindl, who took fourth at state. He’s the top state returner overall. The next closest returner, who was 10th, finished 12 seconds behind Kindl.

Junior Gabe Romney is CV’s top state returner. He finished 24th last year. Senior Isaac Nichols led CV to a season-opening win in Bend, Oregon.

Ferris returns senior Amir Ado, who took 17th at state in his first year of running last year. Juniors Todd Bloom and Wilson Ladd are the Saxons’ other top returners. Ferris took fourth at state last year and figure to challenge for a trophy again this year.

Gonzaga Prep is led by junior Turlan Morlan, who took 19th at state a year ago.

GSL GIRLS

Lewis and Clark proved to be the darlings of the area, finishing second at state. The Tigers return intact and added a couple of promising transfers to their depth. LC is led by juniors Abby Smith, third at state last year, and Katie Thronson, who is coming off fifth at state. LC won the Highlander Invite on Saturday and coach Kevin Swaim believes his team is picking up where it left off last year. LC hopes to chase defending state champ Camas. “After the jump we registered last year, our girls think that’s something that could happen,” Swaim said.

Central Valley and Mead hope to chase LC. CV returns seniors Kearan Nelson (23rd at state) and Gabrielle Ford (35th). The Bears have much work to do to catch LC.

Mead beat CV at the Highlander by four points. The Panthers bring back senior Hannah Tomeo and junior Hannah Barone along with senior Makayla Lewis.

University junior Claire Dingus, 22nd at state last year, is back.

G-Prep brings back juniors Natali Schwartzberger (37th) and Grace Moloney along with more depth than a year ago.

In 3A, North Central is on the brink to break through with the addition of freshmen twins – Erin and Mia Hill. They finished third and fifth, respectively, at the Highlander. The Indians took second behind LC.

Mt. Spokane graduated talented Micaela Kostecka. The Wildcats return seniors Shawnee Konrad (20th) and Anna Chapel.

Shadle Park is led by senior Ashley Hauger (34th).

GNL boys

West Valley returns senior Jacob Nicholson, 11th at state a year ago and the top returning GNL runner. Also back is junior Cody Skay. Coach Ty Brown is in the midst of a three-year building project and likes his team’s potential. The GNL gets two state berths and he believes a potential state-placing team will be left home.

Cheney and Pullman also return solid teams. Leading Cheney is senior Drake Johnson (25th).

Pullman is led by senior Tim Pendry.

GNL girls

Pullman, which finished fifth at state last year, returns all seven participants led by junior Elyria Kabasenche, who was fifth, and senior Madline Walker, who was ninth.

For the first time in about 10 years West Valley will field a full team led by sophomore Sydney Stone. Three years ago the Eagles were down to one runner.

Cheney is led by junior Hannah Spakousky.

It’s going to be a rebuilding year at East Valley.

NEA boys

This league has become one of the strongest in the state. Medical Lake won back-to-back state championships followed by Deer Park winning last year.

Deer Park, Medical Lake and Lakeside finished 1-2-3 at state.

Riverside junior Ben Shaw, who took third at state last year, is the top returner in the league along with senior Cody Bollum of Deer Park (fourth) and junior Mason Williams of Medical (sixth).

Deer Park won the title at the Moses Lake Invitational last weekend. Bollum was first. Medical Lake took fourth.

NEA girls

Deer Park, third at state last year, will challenge for a state title. The Stags are led by senior Moriah Duenich, fifth at state last year, and sophomore Libby Michael, sixth at state. They finished 1-2 at the Moses Lake Invitational.

Lakeside, coming off fourth at state a year ago, is led by sophomore Haley Golding.

Colville returns five and is led by junior Morgan Hall, 14th at state last year.

2B/1B

The Northwest Christian boys will be out to capture a state title. The Crusaders are led by seniors Jack Ammon and Micah Henry and junior Tyler Shea. Ammon took third at state and Henry was fifth a year ago. Henry is regaining his strength after battling a cancerous tumor last spring. He’s been cleared to run.

In girls, back to defend a state title is St. George’s senior Madison Ward. Other top returners are senior Shania Graham of Republic (sixth), Carmen Eggleston of Asotin (seventh) and Madison Janke of NWC (ninth).

IDAHO

The Lewiston boys have the best chance among 5A Inland Empire League schools to make noise come state. The Bengals return senior Austin Byrer, who finished state runner-up last year.

CdA brings back seniors Alex Walde and Zac Magee.

Lake City returns seniors Alex Ayers and John Weber.

In 4A, senior Josh Corgatelli of Moscow took second last year at state.

In 3A, Brayden Menti, a senior at Timberlake, took ninth at state as the Tigers return their team intact. Timberlake took third.

In girls, senior Caitlin Conway is CdA’s top returner. Conway took eighth at state last year.

Sandpoint hopes to challenge for another 4A state trophy. Bulldogs junior Katherine Kaul took sixth a year ago.

Senior Katherine Ruck of Moscow is seeking a third straight title.

Timberlake, which took third at state, returns sophomore Abigal Peightal (sixth) and senior Taylor Hammond (seventh). Timberlake hopes to reach the state trophy podium for a ninth straight year.