Cross country eyes strong run at district meet
A mild summer has given way to a chilly autumn and the Badger cross country teams wrapped up their final regular season meet this past Saturday at the William Johnson Sandpoint Invitational. Frosty grass covered Travers Park, but the teams would be racing mainly on pavement for three 1-mile loops.
“It is a difficult course despite how flat it is,” said assistant coach Catherine DelSalle. “It can become quite boring and it is easy to fall asleep and not stay engaged at times.”
As the races progressed throughout the morning the temperatures rose, unlike the mostly flat course, and created an opportunity for BFHS history.
Eleven regional teams, including Washington’s Freeman High, came to compete. The Badgers started the day with the girls JV race. Liliana Brinkman was the first Badger across for the day, running the 5K course in 29:22. Erin Dineen broke 30 minutes for the first time this year and set a new personal best at 29:25, having run alongside Brinkman for most of the race. Elizabeth Bourassa took a spill on the third lap, but recovered to finish in 32:55.
The boys JV squad ran next, the temperature slightly increasing as the times also increased. Freshman Matt Donn led the way for the Badgers, coming in at a personal best time of 21:52. Carson Dineen, Justin Strugar, and Evan Nesbitt all came in as a group, finishing in 24:21 (a best for Dineen), 24:22, and 25:19 respectively.
The girls varsity race was to be paced by vast runners from Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene High with Senior Abby Gorton giving her last run at a fast time this season. Abby battled near the front for most of the race, coming in her first mile at 5:53. The second mile brought her time to 12:13. With one lap around the park to go Gorton flirted with running in the 18 minute zone. The blistering pace of the first two laps caught up, but they could not stop a historic run. Crossing at 19:15, Abigail Gorton set a new personal best and in the process set a new BFHS record for 5K in girls cross country. The run was also good enough for fourth place and the only finisher in the top 10 not from a 4A or 5A school.
Cross country records are tricky, due to the fact that not all courses are equal in terms of terrain, features, and surfaces. Nonetheless, 19:15 is now the fastest verifiable time a Bonners Ferry Lady Badger has ever had for 5K in cross country. The previous record holder was, of course, Abby Gorton who ran 19:28 at the State Championships last fall in Lewiston.
Following behind Gorton was rising Freshman Ceci Roemer. Roemer would throw down a 21:52 and break up a very tight pack of Timberlake Runners. Emily Gorino ran with Camille Ussher and the two came in at 23:19 and 23:24 respectively. Jenna Brooks was next for the Lady Badgers at 24:17 followed by senior Serenity Fahey’s season best 25:04. Lauren Onstott rounded out the Lady Badgers with a time of 25:45.
The Badger boys varsity squad ended the day with solid performances as well. Hunter Smith led the way as usual, running a solid pace and snagging a season best 17:17, good for fourteenth place. Taylor DeFalco, also a rising freshman, finished in 19:14. Levi Bonnell, trying to make up for the injured Conner Alexander, threw down a season best 19:26, missing his personal best mark by one second. Brady Hinthorn was the fourth Badger across at 21:20 followed by Justin Mendenhall’s season best 21:27.
The Badgers get a week off before racing at the Idaho District 1 Championships in Farragut State Park on Thursday, Oct. 24, to determine who goes to State.
Complete Results: www.athletic.net/CrossCountry/Results/Meet.aspx?Meet=157725 &show=all