THE FRONT ROW with JASON ELLIOTT: Time to reap rewards of the work

Regardless of what happens today, you've got to hand it to some of our area athletes this year. 

With great expectations comes greater finishes. 

After watching some of these kids compete last week, there's a good chance the best could be yet to come. 

MAKE NO mistake, the Coeur d'Alene High boys cross country team has plenty of talent on its roster. 

And it couldn't matter less to the Vikings who finished first. 

In recent years, the team has run in a pack to the finish line before a senior breaks off the group to claim the championship. 

It could be someone that puts in the work, at practice or out of practice, to become better.

Or just a guy that has been a part of the program and what they're building. 

Four years ago, senior Lachlan May claimed the district title. Three years ago, it was Kyle Rohlinger that earned the honor. Two years ago, it was Max Cervi-Skinner that won the district title. Last year, it was Mitchell Rietze that was first across the line. 

This year, it was Gabriel Heule that won. 

Whoever finishes first in today's state 6A championship race, he'll likely have a few of his teammates right on his heels as the Vikings chase a fourth straight team title. 

Pretty impressive considering no boys team has been able to accomplish it in the state's highest classification yet. 

No to be outdone, the Coeur d'Alene girls used that same method in last week's regional final.  

Who knows, maybe it can happen twice today? 

IT MIGHT come as a surprise to some, but since 2021, runners from District 1 have a bit of a stranglehold on the state 4A girls championship. 

Coeur d'Alene Charter gets a back-to-back champion in 2021 and '22. That runner graduates, another Panthers steps in and wins it in 2024 and '25. 

This year, Timberlake senior Lola Eggleston, who was third at state last year, holds the fastest time in the classification. 

Earlier this year, she won the Timberlake Farragut Invitational, becoming the first Tiger runner to win that race since the school began hosting the event 12 years ago. She also finished in the top 20 at the Nike Bob Firman Invitational on Sept. 26 at The Course Spokane Valley, then cruised to a district title last week at The Course. 

The Tigers aren't too shabby this year either and will be looking to improve on a third-place finish from last year.  

IF YOU paid attention to the state 6A soccer tournaments last weekend, and with Coeur d'Alene's boys and girls and Lake City's girls in the trophy mix, you might have, that weather was nothing to joke about. 

Pouring rain. 

Wind blowing like crazy. 

Up until last week, I'd never heard a soccer coach explain how winning the toss and going against the wind in the first half was going to be an advantage, but it worked out. 

At this point, whatever gets the job done, right?

Whatever it took, win or lose, they competed like crazy, didn't they? 

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for The Press. He can be reached by telephone at 208-664-8176, Ext. 1206 or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on 'X', formerly Twitter @JECdAPress.