Annika Rantala wins district title, girls qualify for state
ATHOL — Junior Annika Rantala ran away with the girls cross country district title at the 3A Region 1 championships last Thursday at Farragut State Park.
Rantala crossed the finish line more than 20 seconds ahead of the next closer finisher to help the Spartans’ girls team qualify for state.
Priest River Lamanna claimed third as a team, one point behind second place Bonners Ferry and 20 behind first place Timberlake.
“We are really proud of the girls for being brave and doing what it takes to get to state this year,” Priest River cross country head coach Lance Clark wrote in an email.
Senior Sharnai Hogan also had a strong showing, placing fifth in the race to qualify as an individual for state. The top 12 runners in the boys and girls races at districts each qualified for state as individuals.
Sophomore Erika Swoboda placed 18th, freshman Lilly Freitas took 24th, sophomore Ainslee Nordby claimed 26th, freshman Jaylein Zylstra secured 28th and freshman Olivia Tefft finished 36th.
These seven girls will all head to the Portneuf Wellness Complex in Pocatello to compete as a team in the 3A state championship 11:15 a.m. Saturday.
The boys team finished last among the five schools that competed at districts.
Sophomore Kaden Fulton led the way for the boys with a 15th place result. Junior Graden Hanes and freshman Dylan Lord crossed the line just over a second apart in 23rd and 24th.
Sophomore Erick Deem took 28th and freshman Ethan Korff claimed 37th.
“On the boys side, we had a young team that really improved their race at the end of the season,” Clark wrote. “With many of the teams graduating their seniors and our squad learning much about training and racing, I look forward to our boys team being a force to be recognized next year. With some offseason training, running track and field, and learning a bit more about the sport and how to be good at it, I really believe these guys will be awesome next year.”
The team will hold its cross country awards and senior night Friday, Nov. 8 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the Priest River High School cafeteria.
3A Region 1 championship
GIRLS
TEAM SCORES — 1, Timberlake 46. 2, Bonners Ferry 65. 3, Priest River 66. 4, Kellogg 77. 5, Coeur d’Alene Charter 112.
PRIEST RIVER RESULTS — 1, Annika Rantala, 20:35.9. 5, Sharnai Hogan, 21:36.0. 18, Erika Swoboda, 23:44.5. 24, Lilly Freitas, 24:24.6. 26, Ainslee Nordby, 25:06.6. 28, Jaylein Zylstra, 26:04.6. 36, Olivia Tefft, 31:17.7.
BOYS
TEAM SCORES — 1, Timberlake 29. 2, Kellogg 74. 3, Bonners Ferry 74. 4, Coeur d’Alene Charter 81. 5, Priest River 102.
PRIEST RIVER RESULTS — 15, Kaden Fulton, 19:23.0. 23, Graden Hanes, 19:53.0. 24, Dylan Lord, 19:54.5. 28, Erick Deem, 20:14.14. 37, Ethan Korff, 21:25.9. 42, Edgil Williams, 21:47.6. 52, Keith Magers, 24:41.4. 53, Charles Bennett, 25:08.7. 57, Bradley Bennett, 30:45.0.