PREP XC: Sandpoint boys win Inland Empire Challenge by large margin

LEWISTON – The Sandpoint boys cross country team took first place out of 17 teams at the Inland Empire Challenge Saturday held at Lewis-Clark State College. Sandpoint’s girls did equally as well, finishing second out of 11 total teams.

Senior Nathan Roche ran to a fourth place finish (16:02) out of 127 runners to lead the Bulldogs. Daniel Ricks posted a new season-best of 16:25 to finish ninth overall. Right behind him was Sandpoint’s Paul Kent who posted another massive personal record (16:28) to finish in 10th place. Kent has been quite the success story this season, considering his best time last year was 19:26. Improving three minutes in one season is not something many are able to accomplish.

Rounding out the top five were Kasten Grimm (16:52) and Michael Hall (17:18). Sandpoint’s first five runners all finished among the top 25 on Saturday. Sandpoint won the team title by 67 points; the next closest team was Timberlake.

For the girls, Sandpoint seniors Lily Richardson (19:52) and Grace Rookey (20:11) posted a pair of top 10 finishes. Richardson finished in fifth; Rookey finished in seventh out of 84 runners. Elizabeth Storms and Terra Bode, who posted another new personal record, finished side-by-side with times of 20:56. Bode has improved her time by 1 minute and 41 seconds since last season. Rounding out Sandpoint’s top five was Devin McDaniel who posted a time of 22:19.

The girls were second on Saturday, only being defeated by Moscow by 16 points. In the girls junior varsity race, Sandpoint took home first place. Sophomore Makiyah Hagstrom won the event with a time of 21:53.

Saturday’s course was relatively flat and fast with gradual sloping hills, according to race organizers.

Sandpoint will be back in action Thursday, Oct. 19 at the 4A District Championship which will be held at Farragut State Park in Athol.

RESULTS

BOYS

TEAM SCORES

1, Sandpoint 56. 2, Timberlake 123. 3, Moscow, 151. 4, Lake City 155. 5, McCall-Donnelly 166. 6, Lakeland 191. 7, Post Falls 226. 8, Coeur d'Alene Charter 240. 9, Garfield-Palouse 244. 10, Grangeville 260. 11, Ridgevue 261. 12, Logos 265. 13, Kellogg 266. 14, Lewiston 279. 15, Pullman 327. 16, Clarkston 384. 17, Clearwater Valley-Kamiah 438.

WINNER, Sandpoint Top 5 – 1, George Springs, McCall-Donnelly, 15:38. 4, Nathan Roche, Sandpoint, 16:02. 9, Daniel Ricks, Sandpoint, 16:25. 10, Paul Kent, Sandpoint, 16:28. 18, Kasten Grimm, Sandpoint, 16:52. 25, Michael Hall, 17:18.

GIRLS

TEAM SCORES

1, Moscow 50. 2, Sandpoint 66. 3, Timberlake 102. 4, Post Falls 104. 5, Garfield-Palouse 128. 6, Lake City 133. 7, Coeur d'Alene Charter 147. 8, Ridgevue 216. 9, Grangeville 218. 10, Lakeland 231. 11, Clarkston 263.

WINNER, Sandpoint Top 5 – 1, Sara Casebolt, Logos, 18:34. 5, Lily Richardson, Sandpoint, 19:52. 7, Grace Rookey, Sandpoint, 20:11. 15, Elizabeth Storms, Sandpoint 20:56. 16, Terra Bode, Sandpoint, 20:56. 34, Devin McDaniel, Sandpoint, 22:19.