SPOKANE - The Coeur d'Alene Vikings were well-honored Wednesday by the Inland Empire Sportswriters and Broadcasters at the Spokane Regional Sports Commission Youth Awards Luncheon at the Spokane Convention Center.

The Coeur d'Alene High girls basketball team was named Junior Female Team of the Year, Viking girls basketball coach Dale Poffenroth was named Junior Female Coach of the Year, and distance runner Kinsey Gomez was named Junior Female Athlete of the Year.

The Viking girls went 22-4 last year and won their third straight state 5A championship in 2010. For Poffenroth, it was his fifth straight trip to the state title game, and sixth straight trophy won by the Vikings in Poffenroth's sixth season at Coeur d'Alene High.

Gomez, who has signed to run at Oregon State next year, won the state 5A cross country championship last fall for the third time in four years. She also won a state title in the 3,200 and 1,600 meters last spring, won a Junior Olympics national title in the 3,000 last summer, and was second in the 1,500.

"It was such an honor to win an award of this stature," Gomez said. "There were so many girls up for the award with amazing talent in each of their sports. Just getting nominated was a huge privilege. I feel like it definitely acknowledged all the hard work I have put into my sport and can't wait to see what great feat I accomplish in the next chapter of my life."

Other Junior winners were Jim Sharkey, Ferris football, Junior Male Coach of the Year; Ferris football, Junior Male Team of the Year; Bishop Sankey, Gonzaga Prep, Junior Male Athlete of the Year.

Other award winners: Eastern Washington football, Team of the Year; EWU football coach Beau Baldwin, Coach of the Year; EWU linebacker J.C. Sherritt, Amateur Male Athlete of the Year; Courtney Vandersloot, Gonzaga basketball, Amateur Female Athlete of the Year; Spokane Shock quarterback Kyle Rowley, Professional Athlete of the Year.