Last season: BOYS — 5A Inland Empire League District Champions; 12th at 5A IHSAA State Championships. GIRLS — 5A Inland Empire League District Champions; 11th at 5A IHSAA State Championships.

Coaches: Mike Ehredt, head coach, third year; Sam Levora ('14), assistant coach.

Key returners: BOYS — Jack Lovin, jr.; Wyatt Lemon, so.; Kai Budensiek, so.; Trace Evans, jr.; Paul Kent, sr. GIRLS — Elizabeth Storms, jr.; Hannah Ricks, sr.; Delaney Barron, so.; Abigail Eldore, jr.; Sienna Todd-Murray, jr.; Ruthie Laughridge, so.; Lillian Grant, so.

Key newcomers: BOYS — Landon Connor, fr. GIRLS — Sophie Brubaker, fr.; Addyson Sychla, fr.; Vivian Schuck, fr.

Key losses to graduation: BOYS — Fletcher Barrett. GIRLS — None.

Outlook: It's no secret, the Sandpoint High cross country team has been one of the region's most dominant teams over the last couple of decades — and there's no reason to think that's going to change this season.

The boys return six of their top seven runners from last season, including Jack Lovin, the 5A Inland Empire League district champion as a sophomore. The rising star holds a personal record of 16 minutes, 39 seconds and was 22nd at last year's 5A State Championship. Paul Kent (15:50) is back and healthy after an injury. With a chip on his shoulder, the senior has embraced the team mentality and will be a crucial scorer all year long. Trace Evans (17:52), a junior, also had a breakthrough year last season and will be key contributor. There's a duo of strong sophomores, Kai Budensiek (16:47) and Wyatt Lemon (17:04), who complement the above upperclassmen nicely and will be key to the Bulldogs' success.

The girls return seven of their top nine runners from last season. Led by junior phenom Elizabeth Storms (20:07), fifth at last year's district championship, the Lady Bulldogs can pack run — rare at the high school level. At last year's district championship meet, their No. 1 through No. 9 runners were separated by just 42 seconds, with the No. 3 through No. 7 runners all finishing within 3.5 seconds of each other. Senior Hannah Ricks (21:25), sophomore Delany Barron (21:33) and juniors Abby Eldore (21:43) and Sienna Todd-Murray (21:22) will be among the scorers, as well as a few others like sophomores Ruthie Laughridge (21:46) and Lillian Grant (21:46).

Coach's comments: "We've encouraged them to believe they've raised the bar. I think sometimes the bar can stay in one place for too long. Are we entitled to go to state every year? No. Should we podium every year? Yes. Should we win a state championship? Yes. There's no reason why we can't this year." - Coach Mike Ehredt

"I'm encouraged by this year's participation and training; it's head and shoulders above my first two years as head coach. When you can step back and see the kids doing it on their own, that takes away, in a sense, my job to motivate them to do it. This is a good culture we have going here. When I saw the way this team was acting early on, I knew it was going to be a good season." - Coach Mike Ehredt 

Player comments: "I'm pretty confident in the entire team. We're all looking really good. There's a lot of competition for the first spot, so it's going to be a lot more interesting this year." - Jack Lovin

"I feel good heading into the year. For me and the entire team, it's the most consistent our training has ever been. Everybody is getting out there, running hard, and I feel like our confidence is the highest I've ever seen it." - Trace Evans

"We have so many newcomers who have a great work ethic. Overall, we're going to be really solid because of that. Everyone is working hard to make our team better. There is so much talent and potential." - Sienna Todd-Murray

"We have a really young team, but that just means we have a lot of room to improve, and we're already going to be pretty fast this season." - Hannah Ricks

Most anticipated meets: Timberlake Farragut Invite, Live Nation Invite and the Battle for the 509

Fun fact: The Sandpoint boys are seeking their 13th consecutive Inland Empire League district title while the girls are seeking their 12th title in the last 13 years.

Sandpoint Cross Country Schedule 

8/23 — @ Post Falls River Run 

8/29 — @ Libby Invitational 

9/6 — @ Timberlake Farragut Invite 

9/20 — @ Mountain West Classic (Missoula) 

9/27 — @ Thompson Falls Invite 

10/4 — @ 8th Annual Battle for the 509 (Airway Heights) 

10/9 — @ Live Nation Invite (Gorge Amphitheater) 

10/18 — @ Inland NW Small School Invite (Nine Mile Falls) 

10/23  — @ District Championships, TBD

11/1  — @ IHSAA State Championships, TBD

* Schedule as of 8/20, dates and times subject to change 

2024 RESULTS

5K courses only

8/30 — Libby Invitational: BOYS — 3rd out of 14 teams. GIRLS — 6th out of 10 teams.

9/7 — Timberlake Farragut Invite: BOYS — 16th out of 30 teams. GIRLS — 17th out of 25 teams.

9/21 — Thompson Falls Invite: BOYS — 1st out of 17 teams. GIRLS — 2nd out of 11 teams.

9/28 — Mountain West Classic: BOYS — 28th out of 66 teams. GIRLS — 24th out of 52 teams.

10/5 — 7th Annual Battle for the 509: BOYS — 19th out of 22 teams in Black race. GIRLS — 5th out of 27 teams in Red race.

10/10 — Live Nation Invite: BOYS — 5th out of 11 teams in Large School race. GIRLS — 6th out of 10 teams in Large School race.

10/24 — District Championships: BOYS — 1st out of 4 teams. GIRLS — 1st out of 4 teams.

11/2 — IHSAA State Championships: BOYS — 12th out of 13 teams in 5A. GIRLS — 11th out of 13 teams in 5A.

    Sandpoint High junior Abigail Eldore nears the finish line at last year's 5A Inland Empire League district championship held at Farragut State Park.