5A DISTRICT 1-2 CROSS COUNTRY: Lovin wins boys race, Sandpoint sweeps titles

ATHOL — When Sandpoint High sophomore Jack Lovin broke the tape Thursday at Farragut State Park, he realized that all his hard work and persistence had paid off.

Lovin, who ran a new personal best 5,000-meter time of 16 minutes and 39 seconds, edged out Lakeland High sophomore Frank McCarthy on the final straightaway by roughly one second to capture the 5A Inland Empire League district crown.

"I didn't think it would happen, but it feels amazing," Lovin said about his victory. "It was a great race and everybody was there right next to me — it was awesome."

Lovin said Wednesday night he felt sick and was feeling down about it, but when the starting gun went off, that feeling went by the wayside.

"Running today felt so great, and it also feels great to be back (running) with these guys," Lovin said about his fellow teammates, who helped him capture the Bulldogs' 12th straight district title.

Junior Paul Kent picked up a sixth place finish (16:46) while freshman Kai Budensiek finished eighth (17:05), freshman Wyatt Lemon ninth (17:08) for the Bulldogs. Sophomore Trace Evans ran to a new personal best time of 17 minutes and 52 seconds and finished 13th to round out Sandpoint's top five. Freshman Hobbes Conley also came up big for the Bulldogs, placing 16th and finishing in front of second-place Moscow's fifth runner with a new personal best time of 18 minutes and four seconds.

On the girls' side, the Lady Bulldogs used some good old-fashioned pack running to defeat Lakeland, which Sandpoint tied with 44-44, but won the tiebreaker. Sophomore Elizabeth Storms placed fifth (21:15), freshman Gracie Maltby sixth (21:16) to lead the charge. Sandpoint then finished 10-11-12-13-14-16-18 in order the capture their second straight district title and 11th in the last 12 years. 

Freshman Delany Barron (21:43) and freshman Ruthie Laughridge (21:46), finished 10th and 12th respectively with new personal bests while Hannah Ricks (21:44) placed 11th and was the fourth scorer for the Lady Bulldogs. Freshman Lillian Grant (13th in 21:46), freshman Katelyn Duke (14th in 21:47), and sophomore Abby Eldore (16th in 21:49) all posted new personal bests and finished in front of Lakeland's fifth runner to help propel Sandpoint to the title.

"I'm happy for the school," Sandpoint High head coach Mike Ehredt said. "At the end of the day, we're a competitive team representing Sandpoint. We're going to take in the moment, but tomorrow we're going to get back to work."

Ehredt said all year him and his coaching staff stressed to their athletes that they should be racing for place, not for time, and that certainly paid off in a big way.

"They know that there's no me ... there's we," coach Ehredt said. "It's probably a surprise we won with such young teams, but that bodes well for the future. Our kids know that they're not entitled to go to state every year — they have work for it, earn it, and they did that today."

Sandpoint will compete next at the 5A state championship meet set to be held Nov. 2 at Eagle Island State Park.

BOYS

TEAM SCORES (top two to state) — 1, Sandpoint 37; 2, Moscow 50; 3, Lakeland 50; 4, Lewiston 86.

TOP 20 INDIVIDUALS (top 10 to state) — 1, Jack Lovin, Sandpoint, 16:39.63; 2, Frank McCarthy, Lakeland, 16:40.83; 3, Ethan Fenley, Moscow, 16:46.75; 4, Orion McClory, Moscow, 16:48.69; 5, Lucas Clements, Lewiston, 16:57.95; 6, Paul Kent, Sandpoint, 17:04.79; 7, Parker Sterling, Lakeland 17:05.14; 8, Kai Budensiek, Sandpoint, 17:05.58; 9, Wyatt Lemon, Sandpoint, 17:08.26; 10, Charlie Mattila, Lakeland, 17:18.84; 11, Noah Best, Lakeland, 17:36.35; 12, Gabriel Siegenthaler, Moscow, 17:47.40; 13, Trace Evans, Sandpoint, 17:52.59; 14, John Dyer, Moscow,18:01.76; 15, Ian Franklin, Lewiston, 18:03.85; 16, Hobbes Conley, Sandpoint, 18:04.80; 17, Noah Bujnicki, Moscow, 18:20.25; 18, Trenton Stypa, Moscow, 18:20.65; 19, Lee Miller, Lewiston, 18:25.16; 20, Jayden Dan-Johnston, Lakeland, 18:27.56.

GIRLS

TEAM SCORES (top two to state) — 1, Sandpoint 44; 2, Lakeland 44; 3, Moscow 54; 4, Lewiston 96.

TOP 20 INDIVIDUALS (top 10 to state) — 1, Cora Crawford, Moscow, 20:08.05; 2, Addisyn Storm, Lewiston, 20:45.59; 3,  Anna Lynn, Moscow, 21:11.17; 4, Maddison Chapple, Lakeland, 21:15.59; 5, Elizabeth Storms, Sandpoint, 21:15.99; 6, Gracie Maltby, Sandpoint, 21:16.33; 7, Sapphire Ruelle, Lakeland, 21:31.35; 8, Bristol Burnside, Lakeland, 21:35.68; 9, Piper Peterson, Lakeland, 21:39.90; 10, Delaney Barron, Sandpoint, 21:43.87; 11, Hannah Ricks, Sandpoint, 21:44.44; 12, Ruthie Laughridge, Sandpoint, 21:46.24; 13, Lillian Grant, Sandpoint, 21:46.88; 14, Katelyn Duke, Sandpoint, 21:47.41; 15, Angelina DeWinkle, Moscow, 21:47.87; 16, Abby Eldore, Sandpoint, 21:49.49; 17, Annie Mattila, Lakeland, 21:51.54; 18, Siena Todd-Murray, Sandpoint, 21:58.12; 19, Erica Hall, Moscow, 22:26.58; 20, Laura Pollard, Moscow, 22:31.69.

    Sandpoint High sophomore Elizabeth Storms (left) and freshman Gracie Maltby (right), who finished fifth and sixth respectively, near the finish line on Thursday.