Runners To Battle For State Spots

If the weather cooperates Saturday, plan a picnic for Farragut State Park where North Idaho high school cross country runners will be trying to qualify for state meets.

Attend the meets if for no other reason than to gaze at the beauty of Lake Pend Oreille and the surrounding lakeside mountain sides.

But if you need a reason then consider that the races - from the A-1 Region I to the A-2 District I-II meets should be tightly contested.

The state meets will be held at the same site the following weekend.

Here’s a look at the races in each classification.

A-1 Region I

None of the individuals figure to compete for high placings at state. But the competition in Saturday’s races will be fierce.

The girls race begins at 11 a.m., followed 30 minutes later by the boys. The top one-third individuals (about 12) will qualify for state. The top three of five teams also advance to state.

Lake City’s boys are expected to defend their title. Lewiston and Sandpoint figure to push the Timberwolves.

Among contenders for the boys individual title are Aron Taylor of Lewiston, Charlie Miller of LC, Adam Grace of CdA and Mark Allen of Sandpoint.

CdA’s girls, meanwhile, figure to unseat two-time champion Sandpoint. But the Bulldogs and LC hope to be nipping at the Vikings’ heels.

CdA’s Eva Unruh, LC’s Christie Tackett and Libby Gerber and Sandpoint’s Nicole Maloney will challenge for the girls individual crown.

A-2 District I-II

After a 1-hour break, the middle-sized schools will follow the A-1 races.

The girls will run at 1 p.m., followed a half hour later by the boys.

About 11 boys and girls will qualify for state, while the top three of five teams also go to state.

Bonners Ferry’s boys have defeated defending champion Moscow four times this season and are heavily favored.

The girls from both schools have split four races and the district race is expected to be just as tight.

Ken Benjamin of Moscow, Josh Sherven of Bonners Ferry and Jeremy Badgett of St. Maries will battle for the boys individual title.

Defending champion Lany Dowell of Bonners Ferry, Yvonne Shea of Moscow and freshman standout Aree Stone of St. Maries go head to head for the girls individual championship.

District volleyball

The A-2 District I-II Tournament begins tonight with a pair of loser-out matches.

No. 6 seed Lakeland (8-14) goes to No. 3 Moscow (11-11) while No. 5 Priest River (8-12) is at No. 4 Bonners Ferry (4-15). Both matches begin at 6:30.

The tourney concludes Saturday at Kellogg. The top two placers advance to state.

The Lakeland-Moscow winner will meet No. 2 Kellogg (15-5) at 1 p.m., followed by the Bonners Ferry-Priest River winner taking on No. 1 St. Maries (18-5) at 2:30. The championship match is scheduled for 5:30.

The A-4 District I Tournament will be Saturday at Clark Fork.

No. 1 seed Clark Fork (10-10) takes on No. 4 Falls Christian (6-11) at 10 a.m., followed by No. 3 Lakeside (7-14) meeting No. 2 Kootenai (8-8).

The championship game, which sends one team to state, is at 3:15 p.m.

Wallace (14-10) sits at home waiting to meet the District II runner-up in a playoff for a State A-3 berth Saturday at Moscow. The match will be held at 2 p.m.

Viking commits

Coeur d’Alene middle blocker Angie Shirley has verbally committed to play at Oregon State University.

The 6-foot-2 Shirley also considered Idaho and Washington State.

, DataTimes