THE FRONT ROW WITH JASON ELLIOTT: These kids, they were just special

Runners are just built differently.

They have to be ready for any kind of conditions on any given day.

Rain or shine, or even early in the season, a little smoke, doesn’t matter.

They’ll be ready to run, whatever that day brings.

SOCCER COACHES talk sometimes about a clean sheet, where the goalkeeper does not allow a goal in a match.

For Post Falls High senior Annastasia Peters, her entire season was about the same, all wins, capped by the state 5A girls championship last Saturday in Lewiston.

As a junior, Peters won both the Inland Empire Challenge and the 5A Region 1 title. In 2022, Peters won all seven events she entered, including the Mountain West Invitational in Missoula and a Twilight Invitational in Marysville, Wash.

Her time at state — 16 minutes, 56.1 seconds — set the course record at Lewiston Orchards, nearly 10 seconds faster than the time by Mountain View’s Lexy Halladay in 2018, the only other time state was held on the course.

Thumbing through Idaho High School Activities Association results dating back to the 1985-86 season, Peters, who has visited Boise State, Utah and Saint Mary's, is the first Idaho girl to break the 17-minute mark at state.

“We were hoping she’d get pushed this year at some point, but it didn’t happen,” Post Falls coach Brian Trefry said. “But that’s OK. To do it here and in this situation, it was just awesome to see.”

For Peters, it was a message that she received the night before the race from former Post Falls standout distance runner Sammie Wood, now at Boise State, that helped relax her.

“Sammie’s such a big role model,” Peters said. “I love her and she’s been a big influence in what I’ve done and how I do it. She texted me last night and told me I was going to do great, and I believe in you. It was such a heartfelt text and I didn’t expect that. In my head, I knew she was cheering me on from Boise, but didn’t know that she’d text me.”

As a junior, it was Wood that won in three races that Peters finished runner-up.

“It’s really tough when you’re the No. 1, but Anna adapted to that position really well this year,” Trefry said. “Her ability to control her thoughts and be in a new position on the team. It’s easy with everyone talking about Sammie before, and they should have been, but Anna’s pretty good too.”

IN ADDITION, Coeur d’Alene’s Charter senior McKenna Kozeluh shattered the state 3A course record in 17:43.80. The previous high was 18:47.73, set by Emma Hillam of Fruitland.

“She’s such a hard worker and fierce mental athlete,” Coeur d’Alene Charter coach Dana Fleming said. “It’s amazing. In our district, there’s nobody that can run with her at all. Every race, she’s managed to get faster and works hard on her own to get better.”

Kozeluh, who has drawn interest from some Big Sky schools, also set the course record at Eagle Island State Park in 18:46.8 last year as a junior when she won her first individual title.

“There’s other coaches that have helped her along the way,” Fleming said. “But she’s worked for it. She’s physically strong, but she might be stronger mentally.”

AS FOR mentally strong, the Coeur d’Alene boys had that covered this year, finishing third in 5A. In addition, the Vikings were named the academic state champions with a team grade-point average of 3.893.

“Overall, I couldn’t be happier,” Coeur d’Alene coach Cathy Compton said. “They fought and battled as hard as they could on this given day. I’m incredibly proud of each one of them. It’s been an honor to coach these kids, and really a privilege. They’re a fun group, smart and they love the sport. That’s what every coach dreams of.”

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for The Press. He can be reached at 208-664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @JECdAPress.