Runners post best times in Sandpoint
<p>Jordan Merz, Cheyanne White and Jill Alexander competed in the Sandpoint Invitational Saturday. Alexander posted a personal best of 23:15.</p>
The Badgers wrapped up the cross country regular season on the fastest course they’d seen all season on Saturday, Oct. 12.
After the government shutdown led to the closure of Riley Creek Campground in Laclede, the Sandpoint High School cross country team moved its invitational to Travers Park which featured three laps around the outside of the park and a mostly flat and entirely paved course.
The JV boys got things started off for BFHS.
Alva Swanson led the way, posting a 20:39. Fellow sophomore Caleb Madson finished in 21:51 while Zach Cleve posted a personal best 22:32. Alex Urbaniak also raced, finishing in 24:09.
The Lady Badgers all raced on varsity, attempting to build the cohesion necessary to lock up a trip to state. Once again, freshman Jill Alexander continued to lead the way with a personal best time of 23:15.
Junior Jordan Merz finished in 24:28 while teammate Hannah Lysne was not far behind with 24:35.
Amanda Bauer continued to show growth with 25:09, also a personal record. Cheyanne White and Klarity Rice also ran well, coming in at 25:56 and 26:47 respectively.
The Lady Badgers will need a similar performance in two weeks if they want to lock up a trip to Idaho Falls.
The Badger varsity team showed guts and battled against a large field of North Idaho teams and IML rivals. Jacob Perkins finished in 17:25 for the fastest Badger time.
Louis Balcaen raced the course in 19:25, his best time this season. Teammate Nolan Stidham finished two seconds later with a 19:27. Tucker Cavender was not far behind with a 19:32. Freshman Eric Ellis ran in at 20:25 while Senior Bradley Thompson finished a gutty race in 21:26.
The Badgers will now take a week off from racing as they prepare for districts, which will be held at Mirror Lake Golf Course on Thursday, Oct. 24 with races beginning at 2 p.m. The Badgers need to finish in first or second place in team scoring to secure a trip to state or finish in the top third of the race to qualify as an individual.
Tyler Warner is the cross country coach.