THE FRONT ROW WITH JASON ELLIOTT: Saturday, September 19, 2015
For years, that second week of the cross country season was dedicated to a fun run, then a little more fun at Silverwood Theme Park in Athol.
You'll have to excuse some coaches that took a chance last week to think a little further along into the season, mainly regionals and state as cross country racing returned to Farragut State Park.
THE COURSE got its first run through last Saturday, with teams throughout the state coming for the Timberlake Invitational at Farragut.
First impressions were, well, great, according to Timberlake coach Shawn Lawler.
"It was well received from all the coaches," Lawler said. "(Coeur d'Alene) Charter's coach Jim McPhilomy called it a 'fun and challenging course.'"
On Oct. 22, District 1 schools will converge on the course again for the state-qualifying meets in the 5A, 4A, 3A, 2A and 1A classifications, to be followed by the state meet in all five classifications on Oct. 31.
"John Doherty, Capital High's coach said 'this is one of my favorite courses, ever,'" Lawler said.
The course is on the north side of the park in an area called Scott Field, away from the area that they used to run the course complete with Goat Hill - a 45-degree, 150-meter grade in which some runners have to crawl, not run, up, followed by a steep downhill. It was the first race at Farragut since 2011. Coeur d'Alene High, which hosted meets at the park in the past, has since moved its race to an area in Hayden Meadows.
"They didn't want us near the traffic and congestion that accompanies the boat launch and other areas near that section," Lawler said. "I know some coaches didn't like all the asphalt that was on the old course either. I'm sure all will miss 'Goat Hill.'"
Some things that will change from the invitational to districts will be a stretch at the two-mile marker.
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"We need to tweak an area where runners meet each other near the 2-mile," Lawler said. "Fans would cheer on the front runners and block the course for the runners near the back. We need to have a few more course monitors to keep that section clear."
Lawler added that there was no issues getting in or out of the park for spectators.
"Everything went well," Lawler said. "The park officials did a great job making sure the flow came in and left in an orderly fashion."
Buses for the teams parked along the Scott Field perimeter road.
IF LAST weekend's results are any indication, it could be a good day for the southern schools when they return for the state meet in October.
Mountain View High of Meridian swept the team titles, with the top local finishers being the Coeur d'Alene boys (sixth) and Timberlake boys (ninth). The Coeur d'Alene girls were fifth, Timberlake girls eighth and Post Falls girls 10th.
State hasn't been held in District 1 (the area between Bonners Ferry and Plummer) since 2009, when the meet was held at Circling Raven Golf Course.
On that day, Timberlake's girls won the first of three straight state 3A titles. Coeur d'Alene's girls started their run of three straight titles a little closer to home, at Hells Gate State Park in Lewiston in 2012 - the last year state cross country was in North Idaho.
There's plenty of season left to go, but you can't help but think it bodes well for area schools.
They'll get another look at the course next month for regionals.
By then, the bugs won't be the only things that have been worked out.
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 jelliott@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter @JEPressSports.