Cross country teams heading to state
SANDPOINT — Having persevered through an injury-riddled season, the Sandpoint girls cross country team is hoping to peak at the right time and contend for a title at the 4A state cross country championships this Saturday in Idaho Falls.
Leading the charge will be juniors Megan Bartlett and Kat Vardell, who finished first and second respectively at the district meet in Moscow last Friday. Bulldogs coach Matt Brass says injuries have decimated the girls team this year, a different runner getting hurt seemingly every time another would get healthy.
"They still have the goal of bringing home a trophy," says Brass, whose girls team finished second at state last year.
Bartlett also finished second individually, and will be facing the same girl from Century that beat her by 15 seconds in last year's state meet. The two have not gone head to head this year, and Bartlett is hitting top form at the right time.
"Megan is running better than we've ever seen her run," says Brass. "She's one of the top three in 4A for sure."
Kat Vardell, who finished 6th at state last year, should be in the top 10 mix again this year. She'll be joined on the girls team by Rebecca Johnson, Crystal Crawford, Karina Olson, Vicky Vardell, Karlee Hergenreder and alternate Hope Woodruff, who qualified for her first varsity match.
David Householter, who finished second at the district meet last Friday, will join fellow senior Sam Sisson in trying to crack the top 20 in the boys race. Last year Householter finished 26th at state, and neither he nor Sisson will be lacking for incentive.
"I expect and hope they can work into a top 20 medalist spot," says Brass of the two. "They're both seniors, and it would be nice to see them push each other."
Rounding out the boys team will be Tim Householter, Kevin Clyde, Tony Charvoz, Jesse Javana, Danny Pfeifer and alternate Galen MacDonald. Clyde, Pfeifer and MacDonald are all JV runners, each making a surprise appearance on the final state teams.
The meet is at Freeman Park, with the 4A girls race starting at 1 p.m., and the 4A boys race beginning at 2 p.m.