The Front Row with MARK NELKE September 16, 2010

Back in 1978, when cross country was in its infancy in the Inland Northwest - when it might have seemed like a good idea to wear nylons or long fuzzy striped socks instead of Spandex to keep warm while running - a senior who would later become cross country coach at Coeur d'Alene High became the first girl from North Central High in Spokane to qualify for state in that sport.

Years later, Cathy Compton is trying to model the Viking program somewhat after the program where she competed in high school.

Her assistant with the Vikings, Don Walters, is also an NC alum.

"We're trying to instill some of the traditions that we learned from our four years there," Compton said. "Traditions of pride and running with confidence, and sticking together as teammates, and helping each other out - building team success rather than individual success."

So you can imagine why Compton was beaming after last Saturday's Tracy Walters Invitational at Audubon Park in Spokane - her old home course in cross country. The Viking boys placed three runners in the top 10 and finished second to North Central - now one of the top programs nationally.

David Norris of Coeur d'Alene finished fourth, Cody Curtis eighth, Alex Troxel 10th at Audubon Park. The Viking boys are primed to make a run at a state title next month in Soda Springs. Kinsey Gomez of Coeur d'Alene won the girls race in a meet and course record time, and is favored to repeat her state title next month.

"We're doing everything in our power to make (cross country) a big deal," Compton said. "If we didn't turn some heads before (Saturday's meet), we did now."

ANOTHER TEAM from Coeur d'Alene came in second on Saturday - the Viking football team lost 36-34 in Vancouver, Wash., to Skyview High, a state 4A semifinalist last year. But, results aside, the Viking coaches thought the trip was beneficial.

"The best thing to come out of this is that we proved we can scrap with the best in the tri-state area - we didn't back down," Coeur d'Alene assistant coach John House said. "They (Skyline) will challenge for a state title in Washington (they lost to Ferris in the semifinals last year), but our kids didn't back down - there's a lot of fight in these puppies."

Coeur d'Alene jumped out to a 17-0 first-quarter lead, and held off the Storm until the hosts took the lead early in the fourth quarter. Still, the Vikings had a last chance, driving deep into Skyview territory before an interception halted the march before Coeur d'Alene could try a field goal.

Junior Chad Chalich completed 29 of 49 passes for 345 yards and two touchdowns - 52 yards to Colin Comack on a screen pass, and 5 yards to Jake Matheson. Kyler Dunn returned a blocked punt 26 yards for a touchdown, and Drew Turbin ran back a kickoff 89 yards for a score. Parker Wilson kicked field goals of 35 and 28 yards.

Star Viking running back Zach Keiser didn't play for the second straight week because of a tendon injury in his right foot. Coeur d'Alene's next game is Sept. 24 at home vs. Sandpoint. The Vikings don't open 5A IEL play until Oct. 15 at Lewiston.

So it figures to be an entertaining rematch when Skyview is scheduled to visit Coeur d'Alene next fall.

"They're good, they're big and they're quick," House said of Skyview. "They get to the ball early, and they arrive angry. We just made too many small errors. We learned a lot and we'll grow from this."

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via e-mail at mnelke@cdapress.com.