Going the Distance again ... North Idaho runners capture another national title

The North Idaho Distance Project 13-and-14-year old boys cross country team, paced by Milo Parr-Coffin in third place, won the USATF National Junior Olympic Championships on Dec. 14 at the Blue River Cross Country Course in Shelbyville, Ind. 

Parr-Coffin finished the 4,000-meter race in 12 minutes, 22.98 seconds, followed by Rowan Henry in fourth in 12:28.16.  

“It was great,” North Idaho Distance Project coach Allison Howard said. “We had very high expectations, and still managed to exceed those.” 

There were 37 teams in the boys 13-14 year-old division. 

“It was really a team effort,” said Howard, whose team claimed a third title in the last four years. “We had people that didn’t run to qualify us that didn’t even run this weekend, so it really took everyone to make this happen.”

The program’s 11-12 year-old girls team finished third out of 27 teams. 

“We had 23 kids that had personal-bests, so it was great to see,” Howard said. “You think of these big city teams, and we’re able to compete right with them. What these kids do, it’s just terrific.” 

Annabelle Carr, who won the state 4A title for Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy in November at Eagle Island State Park, finished fifth in the girls 5,000-meter 15–18-year-old race in 18:57.57. 

BOYS 2,000 meters (7-8 year old) — 20, River Parr-Coffin, 7:54.72. 50, Shepherd Dance, 8:16.54.  

GIRLS 2,000 meters (7-8 year old) — 93, Julia Carr, 9:29.81.102, Verity Howard, 9:34.63.  

MEN’S 3,000 meters (9-10 year old) — 37, Quinton Wilburn, 11:29.01. 83, Miles Wood, 11:57.38. 84, Brody Brulotte, 11:57.57. 142, Evan Wallace, 12:19.65. 214, Griffin Edgehouse, 12:53.79. 230, Landon Thurston, 13:01.09.  

GIRLS 3,00 meters (9-10 year old) — 7, Boheme Parr-Coffin, 11:36.76.  

GIRLS 3,000 meters (11-12 year old) — 12, Olivia Betz, 11:01.87. 30, Summer Dance, 11:17.39. 44, Charlotte Carr, 11:31.31. 48, Finley Taylor, 11:32.49. 71, London Dance, 11:49.07. 132, Kathryn Drost, 12:12.99. 142, Hannah Burkwist, 12:16.50. 178, Brooklyn Caywood, 12:26.93. 

BOYS 4,000 meters (13-14 year old) — 3, Milo Parr-Coffin, 12:22.98. 4, Rowan Henry, 12:28.16. 28, Andrew Grady, 13:13.34. 94, Riley Lechleitner, 13:40.69. 99, Charlie McVey, 13:34.31. 181, Noah Garrido, 14:15.82. 202, Wyatt Matous, 14:21.80. 303, Hunter Pitsch, 15:02.36. 

GIRLS 4,000 meters (13-14 year old) — 28, Victoria Howard, 14:33.29. 32, Paloma Parr-Coffin, 14:34.18. 92, Kalia Blanchard, 15:16.47. 140, Emmaline Carr, 15:26.39. 143, Violet Hernandez, 15:37.49. 209, Gracie McVey, 16:16.60. 209, Lily Alberton, 16:24.54. 295, Ruthie Laughridge, 17:15.98.  

    Courtesy photo Members of the North Idaho Distance Project were named All-Americans for finishing in the top 25 in their respective age groups at the USATF National Junior Olympics on Dec. 14. From left are Miro Parr-Coffin, Rowan Henry, Olivia Betz, Boheme Parr-Coffin and Indy Parr-Coffin.
  

    Courtesy photo The North Idaho Distance Project recently wrapped up the season at the USATF National Junior Olympics on Dec. 14 in Shelbyville, Ind. In the front row are Nolan Anderson, Brody Brulotte, Miles Wood, Evan Wallace, Quinton Wilburn, Landon Thurston, Boheme Parr-Coffin, Julia Carr, Verity Howard, Indy Parr-Coffin, Shepherd Dance and Grant Anderson. In the middle are Peyton Brulotte, Emalyn Bell, Charlotte Carr, Finley Taylor, Hannah Burkwist, Summer Dance, Brooklyn Caywood, Olivia Betz, London Dance, Vivian Howard, Kalia Blanchard, Tory Howard, Paloma Parr-Coffin, Gracie McVey. In the back are head coach Allison Howard, coach Dave Dance, Noah Garrido, Wyatt Matous, Rowan Henry, Charlie McVey, Riley Lechleitner, Drew Grady, Hunter Pitsch, Miro Parr-Coffin, Lily Alberton, Ruthie Laughridge, Violet Hernandez, Emmaline Carr, coach Austin Anderson, coach Holly Matous and coach Channing Dance.