Denham nabs district championship

| October 23, 2008 9:00 PM

POTLATCH - It was about quality, not quantity, as cross country runner Adam Denham, the lone male runner for Clark Fork, dusted the field of 48 runners to win the 1A/2A District 1-2 cross country champioships Thursday at Lions Park in Potlatch.

Denham, a senior, clocked a 17:22, winning comfortably and securing a spot in next week's state championships at Eagle Island State Park. Denham beat his closest competitor from Deary by more than 30 seconds, avenging a loss to him from the previous week.

"He's ecstatic," said Cats coach Megan Olson, on hand to coach the three Wampus Cat runners on the Cats' first-ever team. "While he went all out, he definitely had something left."

Olson believes Denham, who continues to get stronger as the season progresses, has a legitimate shot at an individual state title next week.

Junior Jessica Cartmell set a personal best in finishing at 31 minutes, and junior Diana Geiger broke 30 minutes for the Clark Fork girls team. Neither qualified for the state meet next weekend.