Bartlett, Vardell, Burgstahler and Denham land honors

SANDPOINT — Four area cross country runners, including three Sandpoint girls, landed spots on the All-District 1 cross country team, as voted on by the coaches.

Senior Megan Bartlett, who got second at state this year after winning as a junior, was joined by senior Kat Vardell and sophomore Molly Burgstahler, giving the Bulldog girls strong representation.

 Clark Fork runner Adam Denham, who was the 2A District 1 champion, was the lone area boy to make the team. As part of the first ever Clark Fork cross country team, Denham trained and practiced with the Sandpoint boys team.

Sandpoint head coach Matt Brass on why each runner made the team:

n Bartlett: "What do you say. Very few times you coach an athlete of that caliber. Very dedicated, she continued to improve all four years. Ran a school record time of 18:10 this year."

n Vardell: "A really consistent four years. Improved her times from freshman to senior, one of the solid members of the team running in the No. 2 spot. She finished 3rd at regionals and 2nd the two years before that."

n Burgstahler: "As the season progressed she made huge bounds. Kat helped pull her along and she now has the 8th fastest time in SHS history. Great first season."

n Denham: "Fierce determination and very motivated. He led by example. When he came to practice he was there to work hard. He wasn't going to slow down, so they (Sandpoint boys) had to speed up."

Sandpoint is taking 18 runners down to Boise on Saturday for the prestigious Nike Cross Northwest meet.

ALL-DISTRICT 1 CROSS COUNTRY

BOYS

RUNNER OF THE YEAR — C.J. Helbling, jr., Lake City.

DIRTY DOZEN

Cody Curtis, Coeur d'Alene; Adam Denham, Clark Fork; Luke Iott, Coeur d'Alene Charter; Ian Lawlor, Coeur d'Alene; Nick Pierson, Coeur d'Alene; David Norris, Coeur d'Alene; Ryan Sacksteder, Timberlake; Dan Scott, Lake City; Dylan Sweeney, Bonners Ferry; Luke Szymanski, Coeur d'Alene; Brian Tucker, Timberlake; Dillon Zarpentine, Kootenai.

GIRLS

RUNNER OF THE YEAR — Kinsey Gomez, so., Coeur d'Alene.

DIRTY DOZEN

Lizzy Armon, Coeur d'Alene; Megan Bartlett, Sandpoint; Jaida Bowens, Lake City; Molly Burgstahler, Sandpoint; Amanda Buttrey, Coeur d'Alene; Dayna Drager, Coeur d'Alene; Rhianna Grossman, Lake City; Sadie Iott, Coeur d'Alene Charter; Molly Mitchell, Lake City; Alex Turbin, Timberlake; Kat Vardell, Sandpoint; Angie Whalen, Post Falls.