Northwest Preview

With the season getting underway in Oregon tomorrow with everyone else soon to follow let’s take a look at the leading runners & some teams from the Pacific Northwest. Alaska actually has had four important races and that state is somewhat unique also as they have their two big school champions back for yet another. Truth be told by Leah Francis of Juneau-Douglas & Trevor Dunbar are two-time defending champions. Francis scored a coup for Alaska by winning the NTN Northwest Regional where she edged Idaho’s Nicole Nielsen. Nielsen later qualified for the Footlocker National meet in San Diego, Although Francis is clearly the class of the state there are others to watch. It must be noted that the role of supporting cast is fairly open with Crystal Pitney & Shoshana Keegan having graduated. Most likely Francis’ closest pursuer should be Letitia Luch of West Anchorage. She was 5th in the State meet last year & has already won the title at the Skyview Inviati onal. Another to watch will be Chloe Ivanoff of Kodiak, who placed 3rd behind Luch at Skyview and was a distant 2nd to Francis at Bartlett this season. Another girl to watch is Esther Kennedy of Service, who placed 9th at State last year and was 2nd at Skyview.

As noted Trevor Dunbar, who is coached by his father, is the man to beat. The two time champion is already somewhat of legend having won a race last year after falling & then having to stop & pull up his shorts in place. He does not appear ready to give the peers in his state a chance once again as he has already claimed victories at Bartlett & Skyview. Dunbar has got to be considered a possible Footlocker qualifier for the NW, if he can go to that traditional meet. Normally most of the boys’ leaders do not return but this year is different and Aaron Fletcher of Anchorage South has trailed Dunbar home the last two years. Fletcher placed 2nd to Dunbar this year at Bartlett & then finished 3rd at Skyview. Jake Parisien may be gone but Dunbar’s Kodiak team mate may end up as his chief opposition and Sam Salus has run well this year. He lost to Fletcher at Bartlett & then defeated him at Skyview. Sam finished 4th at State last yea r. Others to watch are Tyler Anderson of ACS & Ryan Handley of Dimond. It seems to me that Mike Miller of ACS should be returning but I have not seem him in the results thus far.

Oregon has a number of runners, who should be setting their sights beyond the national level but rather on a national level. Taylor Wallace of 3A Henley is the best runner in the state and proved it by qualifying for the prestigious Footlocker meet. She also did Oregon proud at the Border Clash, where she placed 2nd to Bellarmine’s Nicole Cochran. She won the Northwest Classic last year as well as the Yreka Invitational. The key to her season is being able to get the competition, which she needs to sharpen her talent but look for her to earn another berth at Footlocker again. Quite possibly the next best runner in the state is Alyssa O’ Connor of Summit. She had a great freshman campaign but was felled by major injuries the last two seasons. Still, when she is healthy, she is one of the State’s best & she has a strong track season to prove it. Here’s hoping that she comes back in top form and earns the trip she deserves to San Diego. Jesuit’s Noelle VanRysselberg placed 3rd at the 6A level last season & the two girls were finished ahead of her, Michelle Dettman of Centennial & her team mate Adrienne McGuirk, have both graduated. Other runners of note are Gresham’s Khalia Tidwell (4th) & Erin Jones of Hood River (6th). Jones placed 2nd at the Northwest Classic last year. Another formidable runner is Tate Murray of Lake Oswego who placed 7th at State. Lincoln’s Betsy Koberg placed 8th last year. Other runners of note are Andrea Dettman of Centennial (10th last year), Laura Matzke of Forest Grove, Rachel Rasberry of South Salem, Maren Westby of West Salem & Audrey Botti of Sunset. .

Kayleigh Tyerman of Crater had a strong XC season last year & followed with an even better track season. Although the team graduated Riley Swanson (3rd) & Laurie Stoutenburg (9th) her team mate Silver Seibert (4th) should also be a force at the 5A level. They are also joined by returnees Arrianne LaFierre (6th) & Anya Martinez (37th). Samantha McCloud of Hermiston is another as well as team mate Kim Macias, whose sister Jennifer is racing for Oregon State. Kellie Foley of Crook County may not have her sister Michelly to follow this year but she is a formidable runner in her own right. Corvallis also has a strong nucleus back led be Jen Johnson, who won a race this summer in Washington. She was 29th at State but was plagued with problems.

Team-wise St. Mary’s had a banner season last year placing 2nd at State & then winning the NYN Regional & beating rival Jesuit at NTN. Their leader is expected to be Alexandra Jones who placed 10th at State last year. She was inexperienced & the season was somewhat of a learning experience for her & it is assumed she will be much improved this season. She has more than ample support with Lucy Whipps (9th at State), Alexa Kearns (11th at State) plus Erin Bergmann & Jen Olsen. With the runners they have returning they should be a factor on the national level. Jesuit, naturally, is a perennial power and they have a host of runners always waiting in the wings to replace the varsity. That said the loss of McGuirk is a big spot to replace. Still they have Noelle VanR, plus Payton Schutte (12th at State), Maria Salazar (15th), Shannon Mahoney & Claire Hagler. Summit at the 5A level did not have O’Connor last year yet they still did well. Back for this season Kellie Schueler (who had an outstanding track season after placing 10th at State), Ana Valarde, Brooklin Bryantt, Lourdes Valvarde & Jesse Luarsen. Crescent Valley lost Amelia Yeager & Sara Aauer but they return Lizzy Vitello, Mackenzie Entrikin & Claire Krizan.

The season will be quite different in the boys’ division with the loss of Bryce Burgess of Franklin, who won the State title & then just missed qualifying for Footlocker. Central Catholic lost former state champion Taylor Morgan (2nd last year) & Joel Turkheimer but they return Samot Turina (5th), Musa Ahmed (7th & the winner of New Balance), Peter Slauson (20th) & Curran Carlile (31st). Jesuit lost their two main leaders Brian Manning & Peter Maag but the have Ben Demaree (21st) & a horde of replacements. They seem to have an ability to reload quickly so don’t be surprised if they are a force. Lake Oswego’s Elijah Greer is one, who could really make his presence be felt. Not only was 15th last year but his track season was truly great with his 800 meter time winning the US Jr. Championship & qualifying for World. Nathan Mathabane is another, who could be a factor, but he did not run last year and his training appears to be more geared to track. Still he has a gift for running and could easily be a factor.

At the 5A level are Jordan Ringe of Hermiston (3rd and 4th at New Balance), Alex Patterson of Klamaath Union (4th), Tim Costin of Springfield (5th at State & 1st at South Salem), Zach Elliott of Crater (6th state), Wilder Schaaf of Ashland (7th State) & Josh Elliott of Crater (15th). Although there are a number of fine runners in Oregon the best is Eliott Jantzer of Phoenix. We won the Northwest Classic and then his division of State and then was the 2nd best junior at the West Regional of Footlocker. He has a dream of making the meet & representing his state & intends to dedicate his season to that goal.

The state of Idaho will be heard from this year as Nicole Nielsen of Borah is back. She had a banner season last year with wins at Caldwell, Tiger/Griz & Firman & placed 2nd at State & then again in the NTN Northwest Regional. At Footlocker she became only the second female from that state to earn a trip to that great race joining Kinney winner Ellen Lyons, who won a national title in 1979. Back also are Kinsey Gomez of Couer d’ Alane, whor an 17:56 in taking the title, Amanda Ward of Idaho Falls (3rd), Liz Brandon of Eagle (5th) & Sarah Olsen of Bosie (6th). At the 4A level defending champion Megan Bartlett of Sandpoint returns to defend & second place finisher Kaylee Campbell is back to challenge. The Boise girls were one of the best in the Northwest last year but they lost a number of crucial runners. Perennial power Bishop Kelly, however, was a strong team last year & they return their top five runners plus their seventh. Codi Gifford (4th at State - 19:06) should lead the way followed by Laura Tuthill (6th), Payton Gifford (7th), Jordan Englehardt (10th), Bronte Gifford (11th) & Erin Kelly (21st). Proctor gave BK a good battle last year & do not return as many of their top runners but they still should be formidable. Kaylee Campbell (2nd at State - 18:56) should be a factor for the individual honors at that level. Another runner to watch is Annie Dear of Olympia who was 19th last year but won a XC race this summer. For the guys Idaho lost 2nd place finisher John Coyle of Lake City (2nd) as well as Borah’s Jared Nielsen (5th) but they have 1 - 3 & 4 returning. Eric FitzPatrick is the one to beat for he not only won the State title easily but also claimed victory at Caldwell & the Tiger/Griz. Cody Helbling of Lake City and Greg Montgomery of Boise.

Washington runners have dominated the Border Clash during its history and the state will have numerous quality runners returning. Andrea Nelson returns as champion & will be hard to beat. Back also are Sandra Martinez- (3rd of Davis, Devin McMahon (4th) of Redmond, Sarah Lord 5th) of Redmond & Alyssa Andrews 6th) of Gig Harbor and Lacey Wagner 7th) of Lake Stevens & her team mate Cia Bywater (10th). Ellie Bonner of Snohomish (12th) is not back but their 2nd through 6th runners all return and could make it to NTN nationals. Sarah Whybark, Kristi Fairbanks, Brenna Condon, Michelle Bastian will only need a little help. While perennial powers Gig harbor, Bellarmine (Nicole Cochran & Kayla Evans) & Jackson lose key runners, Eastlake returns a strong group led by Chelsea Orr (15th), Katelyn Steen (23), Erin Blodnick (34), Sara Fester (44), Megan Batty (48) & Madison Starnes (50). They do not look to be quite as strong as Snohomish but one never knows what training occurred this summer. Annie Moore of Sehome leads a Sehome team that should be strong. She battle champion Bronwyn Crossman last year at State & placed 2nd last year at South Whidby (plus 2nd at New Balance the previous year). Although Crossman is gone Squalicum retains Sophie Curl from last year’s quality team.

Last year both Miles Unerreiner of Gig Harbor, who won the 5A division, and Jonathan Lafler of Tahoma both qualified for Footlocker so there will be opportunities for the runners returning. Kelly Lynch of Mead is another front runner missing but Kevin Rosaaen placed 3rd at State last year & is the top big-school returnee. Sophomores Mitchell Briggs (6th) of Jackson & Shane Moskowitz-(9th) of Central Kitsap are the next two highest placers: look for big things from them this year. Junior Scott Larson-(10th) of Lake Stevens is the next top runner. Seniors dominated the top places and most teams lost a fair number of key runners, beyond those already noted, so it is anyone’s guess as to the team battle. Andrew Kimpel of North Central placed 2nd & finished well ahead of everyone returning this year at the 3A level, but then last year’s results only can give a hint to the potential of the following year.

It should be another good year for Northwest runners with a number having a shot at the sports holy grail of San Diego, the Hotel Del Coronado & Footlocker Nationals. Good luck & good sport to all.