NIKE NORTHWEST CROSS COUNTRY REGIONAL MEET: Pantalones run through ice, snow to nationals
EAGLE - Getting there was tough.
Finishing might have been tougher.
But after getting through a foot of snow, a little bit of ice and temperatures below freezing on Saturday afternoon, the girls elite cross team of Pantalones Rapidos from Coeur d'Alene High will get another day in the sun.
Pantalones Rapidos - comprised of members of the three-time state 5A champion Viking girls - advanced to the Nike National cross country meet with a second-place finish in the Nike Northwest Regional at Eagle Island State Park.
"It was a winter wonderland, and anything could have happened," Pantalones and Coeur d'Alene High coach Cathy Compton said. "It was a little overwhelming with the conditions, but nice to get to advance."
Kara Story was the top local finisher for Pantalones Rapidos, finishing 12th in 19 minutes, 43.9 seconds. Coeur d'Alene High won the state title two weeks ago on the same Eagle Island course, albeit in rainy and windy conditions.
"The course was full of snow and ice," Compton said. "It definitely devastated these girls and was the most memorable race for sure in more ways than one, but I'm pretty excited for them."
Pantalones finished second in the championship flight with 101 points. Milltown Project of Camas, Wash., won the team title with 67 points.
Ella Donaghu won the girls race for the Grant Park Harriers in 18:55.8.
The top two teams in the boys and girls championship race earn an automatic berth to the Nike National meet on Dec. 6 at Glendoveer Golf Course in Portland, Ore.
Lake City High senior Jake Finney, running for Wolf Pack Attack, finished eighth in the boys championship race in 16:55.6.
Kyler Little, also of the Lake City-based Wolf Pack Attack, won the boys varsity race in 17:17.6, helping his team finish fourth.
Hellgate of Missoula, Mont., won the boys varsity title with 64 points.
CHAMPIONSHIP (ELITE) RACE
WINNER, LOCALS - 1, Tanner Anderson, North Spokane, 15:54.6. 8, Jake Finney, Wolf Pack Attack, 16:55.6.
VARSITY (HIGH SCHOOL) RACE
WINNER, LOCALS - 1, Kyler Little, Wolf Pack Attack, 17:17.6. 5, Riley Estes, Wolf Pack Attack, 17:56.4. 16, Jacob Graham, Sandpoint Harriers, 18:27.3. 18, Sam Powell, Sandpoint Harriers, 18:31. 35, Jose Winton, Pantalones Rapidos, 18:50.5. 45, Andy McGinnis, Sandpoint Harriers, 18:59. 52, Daniel Walters, Pantalones Rapidos, 19:12.7. 73, Chris Cordova, Sandpoint Harriers, 19:32.6. 75, Zachary Holbrook, Wolf Pack Attack, 19:37. 79, Matt Cloud, Sandpoint Harriers, 19:42.9. 93, Alex Ayers, Wolf Pack Attack, 20:00.9. 104, Charlie Button, Pantalones Rapidos, 20:17. 105, Mark Kennaly, Sandpoint Harriers, 20:18. 113, Kellen Walters, Pantalones Rapidos, 20:33.2. 130, Chris Allsup, Pantalones Rapidos, 21:25.7. 135, Clay Rasmussen, Sandpoint Harriers, 21:37.
CHAMPIONSHIP (ELITE) RACE
WINNER, LOCALS - 1, Ella Donaghu, Grant Park Harriers, 18:55.8. 12, Kara Story, Pantalones Rapidos, 19:43.9. 18, Krista Story, Pantalones Rapidos, 20:07.5. 30, Josie Brown, Pantalones Rapidos, 20:28.6. 60, Caitlin Conway, Pantalones Rapidos, 21:15.2. 70, Merceydes Smith, Pantalones Rapidos, 21:26. 128, Riley Fowler, Pantalones Rapidos, 22:25.4. 131, Kaitlyn Gunnerson, Pantalones Rapidos, 22:34.7.
VARSITY (HIGH SCHOOL) RACE
WINNER, LOCALS - 1, Pia Richards, Sammamish, 20:48.2. 49, Ida Mae Grahlman, Team Premier (Post Falls), 22:52.7. 112, Qetzal Hogue, Pantalones Rapidos, 24:02.6. 163, Esther Erickson, Team Premier, 25:38.1. 165, Becca Lee, Team Premier, 25:45.5. 167, Myrisa Laufenberg, Team Premier, 25:48.5.