• Sunday, May 5, 2024
  • 12 Kilometers (7.46 miles)
  • Spokane, Washington
  • 48th Running

Top High School Runners to Compete in California and Oregon

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

This Saturday, December 1st, will be a big day for high school runners from the Spokane area, as the region's top harriers head south for post-season meets in California and Oregon. Nearly 50 individuals will be competing in the Foot Locker West Regional Cross Country Championships at Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) in southern California, racing against their counterparts from eleven other Western States. On the same day a boys team from North Central will try to put Spokane in the national spotlight again at Nike Cross Nationals in Portland, Oregon, a meet that North Central won in 2008. Nike Cross Nationals are held at Portland Meadows race track in a meet that features 22 of the nation's best high school cross country teams, with the winning team crowned the national champion.

The Spokane contingent at the West Regional meet—one of four Foot Locker competitions held across the country—is led by Gracie Ledwith of Lewis & Clark and Andrew Gardner of Mead. The top ten boys and girls will advance to the Foot Locker Cross Country Nationals in San Diego on December 8, joining top qualifiers from the Northeast, South and Midwest. Last year two Spokane runners—Nathan Weitz and Andrew Gardner—qualified for the meet, with Weitz finishing third and Gardner sixth. Gardner also competed in the 2010 Foot Locker Nationals, where he finished fourth.
2011 Foot Locker Group

2011 Foot Locker Group

The North Central Boys Cross Country team, meanwhile—a senior dominated team competing as North Spokane at National Cross Nationals—is led by Kai Wilmot and Tanner Anderson. The team seeks to add further laurels to their fall campaign, which included a seventh consecutive state 3A title and a sixth straight Northwest Regional championship. North Central senior and future University of Washington Husky Katie Knight will also be toeing the line in Portland in an attempt to better her 3rd place individual finish of 2011.

For the twentieth straight year, over 30 Spokane-area runners had their airline tickets to the Foot Locker meet donated by the Lilac Bloomsday Association. The Bloomsday Association provides airline tickets and ground transportation to runners based on times at regional cross-country meets held in the fall.

"We are always impressed with the quality of talent coming from Spokane area high schools,” said Lilac Bloomsday Association president Carol Hunter. "Bloomsday is proud to be able to help these runners realize their dreams."

More information on the Foot Locker Regionals and Nationals may be obtained by logging on to www.footlockercc.com/west. Information on Nike Team Nationals is available at www.runnerspace.com/nxn.

Runners sponsored to Foot Locker Meet by the Lilac Bloomsday Association:

Girls

1. Gracie Ledwith - Lewis & Clark
2. Makenna Endebrock - Mt. Spokane
3. Anisa Allaet - Ferris
4. Cyra Carlson - Gonzaga Prep
5. Ann Moloney - Gonzaga Prep
6. Maya Pardue - Lewis & Clark
7. Kayla Boyer - Central Valley
8. Brielle Crump - Central Valley
9. Ashlie Standow - University
10. Dannie Baird - Lewis & Clark
11. Kelsey Jerome - University
12. Sanne Holland - Cheney
13. Brittany Aquino - East Valley
14. McCall Skay - West Valley
15. Lindy Jacobson - Lakeside
16. Anna Henry - Northwest Christian

Boys

1. Andrew Gardner - Mead
2. John Dressel - Mt. Spokane
3. Logan Giese - Central Valley
4. Nick Hauger - Shadle Park
5. Travis Thorne - Ferris
6. Kyler Goins - Lewis & Clark
7. Spencer Jensen - Central Valley
8. Peter Helman - Ferris
9. Corey Hunter - Central Valley
10. Kees von Michalofski - Mt. Spokane
11. Davis Mathieu - Lewis & Clark
12. Jacob Vandenberg - Mt. Spokane
13. Briton Demars - Central Valley
14. Daniel Amann - Deer Park
15. Scott Kopczynski - East Valley
16. Kevin Carpenter - Colville

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