THE FRONT ROW WITH JASON ELLIOTT: Nov. 1, 2014

There's a lot still to be written about the Idaho high school cross country season.

Just wait until after today's state championship races.

ON A rainy day in Laclede last Thursday, Coeur d'Alene High senior Josie Brown earned high praise from her coach Cathy Compton after finishing the 3.1-mile race in 18 minutes, 19 seconds.

"She ran the second-fastest time we've had at this school," Compton said. "She was almost as fast as Kinsey (Gomez)."

Gomez won three state championships at Coeur d'Alene, and is now a senior on the Oregon State cross country and track team.

Brown has come close to winning state titles, finishing second as a sophomore and third as a freshman. Then there was last year, when Brown, battling shin splints, fell farther back and finished 47th in Idaho Falls.

"This year, just coming back from injury, I wanted to succeed again," Brown said. "I wanted to get my team to state and try to help them win another state championship."

We'll see later today, but Brown hasn't disappointed yet this year, winning the team's last two races - both coming at the Riley Creek Campgrounds - and finishing second in two others.

She was also 17th in the ultra-competitive Bob Firman Invitational at Eagle Island State Park - the same site as today's championship races.

"I've just been working hard, and working on getting that championship," Brown said. "It's been a fun year. Coming back and I feel like I'm running well."

In an effort to build strength, Brown and her teammates have added a few things to workouts, including weightlifting.

Brown has taken it a step further, doing workouts in a pool twice a week.

"It's just another way to get back into shape," Brown said. "I'll do a speed workout one day and the next I'm doing a long endurance swim. It's just something I'm doing. Everyone else has the option to do it, and it has really benefited me."

DESPITE HER running time in high school being limited, Brown has remained focused on this weekend's task.

"I haven't thought a whole lot (about college) yet," Brown said. "After state, we'll go back to Eagle Island for the Nike (Northwest Regional cross country) race, and I'll figure out a school after that. I'd like to run collegiately, but right now, I'm not too concerned about that."

Another strong performance by Brown today, she likely won't have to worry very long.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d'Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at JEPressSports.