THE FRONT ROW with JASON ELLIOTT: Ready to dash for the finish line

This is the time where things get really fun around here.

All those long practices in the heat, those miles put in training for this moment, you know that each step counts just a little more.

AS THE state soccer tournaments get going in the Boise area next week, cross country teams from North Idaho will be battling in both Lewiston Orchards and Bonners Ferry in an effort to continue their season at state on Nov. 1.

It’s no secret that the Coeur d’Alene boys are loaded in an attempt to win a third straight team title. The Vikings are ranked fourth in the nation according to the latest DyeStat.com rankings.

The state-qualifying meets in 6A and 5A are Wednesday at the Lewis-Clark State Cross Country Course in Lewiston Orchards, the site of the state meet, with the 6A girls race at 10 a.m., followed by the 6A boys at 10:45 a.m., the 5A girls at 11:30 a.m., and the 5A boys race at 12:15 p.m.

In 6A, the top two of the three teams qualify for state.

“We have to get second place as a team to get to state,” Post Falls coach Ryan Booth said. “We have a couple of individuals who have a chance of qualifying on their own, but it truly is a team effort, and we’ll need everyone to show up with good efforts to qualify as a team.”

Post Falls had its girls team qualify for state last year. Lake City advanced for the boys.

“Talia Bonville has been super consistent and running the best she ever has for the girls,” Booth said of his Post Falls senior. “(Senior) Cole Holley and (junior) Jackson Collins have been consistently good for the boys. Every week, someone new does something special on race day, so I’m excited to see what happens at regionals.”

In 5A, Lakeland qualified its girls team for state last year after finishing tied with Sandpoint for the regional title. The top two 5A teams at regionals qualify for state.

“Our girls team has had a solid season,” Lakeland co-coach Shannon Hall said. “Going into regionals, we will have to run a strong race against the other competitors to qualify. The girls team is young with three sophomores and three freshmen competing alongside two-time state qualifier Maddie Chapple (a junior). They will need to race well and work as a team to reach their goal.”

The 4A meet featuring Timberlake, Coeur d’Alene Charter and Bonners Ferry is scheduled for Thursday at Bonners Ferry High. The 3A District 1-2 meet is also Thursday at The Ranch Club golf course in Priest River.

And while Timberlake isn't competing at Lewiston Orchards this week, the Tigers are plenty familiar with that course, having competed in the Inland Empire Challenge on Oct. 4.

“Things look promising for both teams going into the district meet,” Timberlake coach Shawn Lawler said. “As long as everyone stays healthy. Our teams find strength and confidence by staying connected to each other. The focus is always on the team. In recent meets, we have seen consistent performances from our packs on both the boys and girls side. Both have excellent leadership and team chemistry.”

Timberlake junior Vanessa McLachlan was runner-up, junior Lola Eggleston 13th for Timberlake at state last year, when the Tigers finished third at Eagle Island State Park.

Coeur d’Alene Charter senior Annabelle Carr won the 4A girls race last year.

EARLIER THIS year, it was announced the Nike Northwest Regional cross country meet was moving from Eagle Island State Park to the Spokane Polo Fields for this year before eventually moving to The Course in Spokane Valley in 2026.

“We have historically had a group of kids go to NXR when it was in Boise,” Booth said. “Part of it was that they liked the trip down there, so I think some kids are actually disappointed that we don’t get to make a big trip out of it. As coaches, we’re excited because it opens up more opportunities for kids who can’t normally travel, but who love the sport. We’re also hoping it provides an opportunity for us to bring some of the middle school runners to a fun meet that might help them get excited about doing cross country in high school.”

“Moving to Spokane definitely has more of our runners excited to extend their season and compete against schools from the entire northwest,” Lawler said. 

But first are the state high school meets on Nov. 1.

“Kids tend to run fast on that course, and we intentionally selected races and workouts this year to prepare our kids for that type of race,” Booth said. “I think we’ll be prepared. For state, it will be nice to have a three-hour drive instead of 8 or 12. Every team is running the same course, and training hard. So it just comes down to who has the best race on that day.”

“The biggest challenge comes from athletes being pigeonholed on the many tight turns on the course,” Hall said. “Despite that, we’re expecting some fast times next week. For state, teams from up north have an advantage because our athletes have spent more time running on the Lewiston Orchards course. So that benefits our runners for sure.”

How much, we’ll find out soon enough.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for The Press. He can be reached by telephone at 208-664-8176, Ext. 1206 or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on ‘X’, formerly Twitter @JECdAPress.