Glance: GSL cross country

In 2009, Ferris gave the GSL boys their 22nd straight big school state title, North Central won its fourth straight 3A boys and Shadle Park won the girls 3A title. Although 3A champ Ben Johnson of NC graduated, nine top-10 finishers in the four races return.

Returning all-leaguers

Six of the boys and seven of the girls all-league picks return and only one didn’t place in the top 30 at state. Girls are senior Baylee Mires (5th) of Mead; juniors Katie Morris (9th) of Shadle Park, Alison Keenan (10th) and Calli Vanderwilde (27th) of LC and Danielle Maldonado of Mead; and sophomores Katie Knight (2nd) of NC and Kendra Weitz (5th) of Shadle Park. Boys are seniors Kenji Bierig (4th) of LC, Kasey Adams (6th) of NC and Tim Colliton (10th) of Ferris, juniors Nathan Weitz (13th) of Shadle Park and Alex Kimsey (23rd of Ferris) and sophomore Andrew Gardner (8th) of Mead.

Second-team girls are Sky Sanders, Alexandria Moore and Chatelle Fitting of CV, Molly Cole of Mt. Spokane, Victoria Karschney of Ferris, Chelsea Chandler of Shadle Park. The boys are Hunter Johnson of Mt. Spokane, Jon Smith of U-Hi and Vince Hamilton of NC.

Running around

There are high-profile showdowns every week but league meets start off with a bang as CV and Shadle Park (girls) meet at Audubon and LC-University (boys) go to Manito on Wednesday. The second week, Sept. 22, features two defending state champs (boys) in a dual at Ferris while LC is at CV (girls). There is no district meet for the 4A schools but the 3As have a showdown on Oct. 21 at Plantes Ferry.

Saturdays are all right

The heavyweights start trading punches this weekend with the Tracy Walters’ Invitational at Audubon Park and the renamed Highlander – the Meadlander – at the same time at Mead. The long-running Highlander was farmed out to Mead because of construction on the Shadle Park school grounds. It was planned for next weekend but was moved up because Mead had a conflict. There are only two other chances to watch some locals run on a Saturday. There’s a meet at Plantes Ferry on Oct. 25 and G-Prep’s meet at Finch on Oct. 9. The meet at Plantes Ferry is hosted by West Valley and Community Colleges of Spokane, fitting since legendary WV coach Jim McLachlan retired to help his son Sean at CCS. He was replaced by Bob Barbero, who used to coach at U-Hi, where his son is now, and Mt. Spokane. Regionals are in Wenatchee a week before the state meet, which is in Pasco on Nov. 6.