With times improving, Badgers XC looks to Districts

LEWISTON — A dozen Bonners Ferry cross country runners earned season best times last weekend and gained a preview of the state course.

Conditions were optimal for a good day, Badger coach Tyler Warner said. Due to rain earlier in the week, there was no risk of dust and the ground allowed for spikes to grab deeply into the soil.

“It would have been nice if it had stayed a little cooler for the later races, but everybody runs under the same conditions, and everybody had a great day anyway,” he said.

Of the 15 Bonners Ferry runners, 12 had season best times, including eight PRs, mostly from younger runners, but several veterans snuck in some fast times as well, he said.

The Badgers had some boy runners unable to compete at Priest River for various reasons and the race directors encouraged a cut-off time for the varsity races, so that determined a lot of who was varsity or JV.

By team rules, if you don't compete one week, you have to earn your spot back on varsity, Warner said.

“That, combined with the time limits, meant we had sort of an odd mix of JV and varsity runners especially in the boys race, but that wasn't really the point to get team scores, it was more to give athletes a chance to preview the state course as well as give them an opportunity for some fast times,” he said.

One of the awesome parts about XC is that every athlete gets a chance to compete and everybody, JV or varsity, gets to run the exact same course. I don't know how you'll want to explain that to your readers, but that's the most succinct way I can word it. It might be six of one, half dozen of the other to most folks.

Ryan Beckle finished with the fastest boys time, only 3 seconds off his PR, but his first time going under 20 minutes for 5K this season.

Warner said afterward Ryan Beckel walked toward him and said very flatly, "Running under 20 hurts."

“Matthew McCabe posted a PR after a great week of practice. I've noticed he's started really gaining confidence and is starting to push himself more every week and he's reaping those benefits,” Warner said. “Jack Woods led the way in the varsity race for us, running 20:02, followed by Cole Phillips at 20:49. Micah Thomson also had a good day with a new PR as he continues to get better this season.”

In the girls races, Trina Johnson posted a new PR.

Warner said she too is starting to put some pieces together and is really challenging herself.

“She's been doing great and has always had a very positive attitude towards running,” he said.

Sydney Beckle posted a new PR and Ceci Roemer was right behind her with a season best time.

“Ceci has just been getting more confident and has done a great job of just deciding that she can go a little faster when she wants to,” he said.

“After Saturday, Sydney and Ceci have the fourth and fifth fastest times in the IML, respectively, which should both be automatic qualifying spots for state. In the Idaho 3A times, Sydney and Ceci have the 11th and 12th fastest times, respectively, according to athletic.net. Top 20 in the state competition medal,” Warner said.

Warner said he left Lewiston more optimistic about the amount the team has improved, especially as they head into their last regular season meet before districts.

The girls team are on the cusp of a state qualification and the boys are closer now than they've ever been to having a chance to qualify as well, he said.

“We never know who will have good or bad days on Oct. 20, so we just need to put ourselves in the best position to compete,” he said. “Sydney and Ceci are gaining solid momentum and it would be a great accolade for Ceci if we were to help her get a state medal in her senior season and for Sydney to be competitive at the state level as a sophomore. The times say we are getting better, which gives me hope.”

Badger cross country will be at the Kellogg Invite on Thursday with the race held at Pinehurst Golf Course.