KELLOGG — The Wildcat cross country team was the cream of the Central Idaho League crop a year ago. They’re well positioned to repeat as champions in 2025, but it’s going to take someone stepping up in a big way. 

Five of the top seven runners in the league last year were Wildcats, which means that the departures of top performers Ryken White and Nolan Harju won’t sting as badly as previous graduates.  

Head coach Jeff Smith has an idea of who might be the fastest person in purple and gold come October.  

“I'm looking forward to seeing what sophomore Alex Cassidy will do this year,” Smith said. “He has the potential to be our top runner.” 

Cassidy, a sophomore, was Kellogg’s third-best finisher at last year’s state meet and has the distinct quality of somehow finding another gear and gaining speed late in races. If fellow returners and state qualifiers Buck Coe, Davin Harju, Shadrach Creswell and Gage Pierce join Cassidy, Kellogg could be in pole position to finish atop the CIL again.  

Team size and depth may become an issue down the line, but Smith is pleased with his returning group.  

“We have a fairly strong core, with most of our state runners returning for the season,” Smith said. “Barring injuries, we have a good shot at returning to state. We have a tight-knit team that will push each other, in a good way, to better themselves at practice and on the meet courses.” 

Priest River will host the district meet this season, a place that has been fairly favorable to the Wildcats’ runners over the years. He hopes that between then and now, he’s added a few more bodies to compete with some of the other growing teams.  

“I'm thinking both Grangeville and Priest River will have stronger teams this season than they did last season, so it will be a challenge to pull off another district championship,” Smith said.  

PRESEASON PROGNOSTICATIONS: Alex Cassidy is the fastest CIL runner returning from last season. A district championship shouldn’t be terribly surprising for him. As a team, Kellogg’s runners should be the favorites to win a district championship. However, success at the state level may have to wait another year.