Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009

Tri-City runners hope look for strong regionals

By Kevin Anthony, Herald staff writer

The last time the 4A/3A Eastern Regional cross country races made a stop at Spokane's Wandermere Golf Course -- just two short years ago -- it was a memorable day for the Tri-City running scene.

The Hanford girls won the 3A regional title by a single point, marking the first of back-to-back trips to the state meet. The Richland girls finished three points shy of Central Valley for the 4A title.

And that was just the opening act for the real drama.

The Southridge boys made perhaps the biggest splash of the day by finishing a mere two points ahead of Kamiakin for the third and final berth to state in the 3A race -- that after the senior-laden Braves came up seven points shy of qualifying for state the previous season.

Good times.

The Suns and Braves could well put on another close finish Friday, this time in the 4A race.

The top four teams (and top 20 individuals) move on to state in the 4A races, with Ferris and Eisenhower certain to take two of those spots on the boys side. Kamiakin, which went unbeaten in CBBN dual meets, also would have ranked among those "certains" until a bout of flu took hold in the last two weeks of the season and hasn't let go.

Now, the Braves fall back into the list of contenders that includes the Suns, who finished second in the regular season and then runners-up at districts to Ike, which has No. 1 runner Brian Simison back from injury just in time. Also in that group are the other two Greater Spokane League teams -- Lewis & Clark and University.

On the girls side, Richland is a lock (knock on wood) to qualify for state for the fifth straight year and once again should give Central Valley a run for the title. The Bears have won the last three regional crowns.

The 3A team races are all about the North Central boys (likely to win a fourth straight state title) and the Shadle Park girls (state favorites also). Only the top two teams and 10 individuals move on to state.

On the individual front, the 3A girls race promises to be a thriller. Three-time regional champion Andrea Nelson of Shadle Park (42-second average margin of victory) isn't even a lock to be the first finisher from her team.

Nelson, a two-time state champ who was runner-up as a freshman, was the third 3A finisher at the GSL championships behind freshman teammate Kendra Weitz and NC freshman Katie Knight, who won the Richland Invite just ahead of Hanford's Erin Hegarty.

-- The Southeast 2Bs hold their district meet today in Asotin, with the top three boys and two girls teams (15/10 individuals) qualifying for state. ... The CWAC holds its district meet Saturday at the Gorge Amphitheater in Quincy. The top three boys and girls teams (15 individuals) advance. ... The SCAC district meet is at Apple Ridge in Cowiche. The top three boys and two girls teams (15/10) advance.