BFHS cross country teams keep on truckin'
BONNERS FERRY — Badgers Cross Country teams keep one foot in front of the other as they race across the region competing with the other schools in the panhandle of Idaho.
At the meet in Sandpoint, the teams accepted the opportunity to run with teammates in order to motivate each other to run faster times. With the usual leaders of the pack pacing themselves next to their slower teammates, the team still pulled out with a third-place finish.
“The boys team improved their times in the three mile long course, and both teams were rested for Lewiston on Oct. 7,” said Coach Tyler Warner.
The Lewiston course was mostly run on a downhill, but with strong winds, the times for the runners remained relatively low. Lane Stidham, on the boy’s team, finished the course with a personal best, while Erin Dineen and Ella Huggins both ran their season bests, beating their previous times by about two minutes.
Jordan Young took the spotlight at the Lewiston meet by beating the school record for the 5 kilometer distance.
“Collectively, the girls team placed quietly finishing in 6th place, but beating 4A schools Moscow, Lewiston, and Lake City, as well as Intermountain League foes: Priest River and Coeur d’Alene Charter. Timberlake was not present and Kellogg currently does not have a complete girls team at this time,” said Coach Warner.
With much time and energy spent preparing for Districts, the runners will face off for the win beginning Oct. 19 at 2 p.m. for the girls, and at 2:45 p.m. for the boy’s races.
“Jordan Young comes in favored to be district champion, but Timberlake’s Abigail Peightal has been very close to her all season. Abby Gorton has beaten Peightal this season, but Peightal has rallied in recent races,” said Warner. “The girls team is currently projected on athletic.net to finish second behind Timberlake, which still equals a state berth. The boys team is currently ranked third, which should still be a state berth, but recently Kellogg has come on strong. Timberlake and Priest River will likely battle for first and second place. Kellogg’s boys have beaten us once, which has put the team on alert. They know they can’t take any days off and they have spent the last two weeks working hard to make sure they have the chance to earn their trip to state.”
The course is set to be at the Pinehurst Golf Course near Kellogg, which is a fairly flat course and should give the teams another chance to best themselves.
“It could be one last opportunity for the team to achieve some personal bests or season bests, especially with trips to State on the line,” said Warner.
As the fall sports seasons approach the last leg, these young athletes continue to push their limits in order to be the best that they can be.