For the week of September 10 - 16, 2003

Thinclads off
to a fast start

WRHS boys capture first meet

---

What a great way to start the 2003 prep cross country season!

Not only did Wood River High School coaches James Foster and Joel Zellers take 34 runners to last Thursday’s Valley Invitational meet, the Wood River boys ended up winning the eight-school team meet.

Wood River, featuring 24 boys and five in the top 15 placers, set the pace for the season by out-pointing the powerful Gooding Senators 42-44. The Declo Hornets were third, 69.

It was the first Wolverine boys’ triumph over Gooding in the last five seasons. Foster said, "The boys have been working hard and they were proud of their victory over the talented Gooding squad."

Seniors Jack Harris (18:14) and Alex Hamlin (18:17) finished fifth and sixth of 83 boys on the 3.1-mile (5 kilometer) course around Valley’s Wilson Reservoir north of Hazelton.

Overall winner was Eric Gushee of Gooding (17:50). Placing 8-9-15 for Wood River were freshman Taylor Sundali (19:07), senior David Vanderpool (19:16) and junior Lucas Pletcher (19:51).

Foster said, "Alex Hamlin pulled Jackson Harris around the course before Jackson beat Alex to the finishing line. And our girls fought the sun and dust to finish in third place behind Valley and Shoshone.

"Both our teams featured quite a few first-time racers. Seven girls and 14 boys completed their first 5k around the Wilson lake course."

Coming up:

The Wood River Invitational meet Thursday, Sept. 11 on the Sun Valley Gun Club trails east of Sun Valley. Middle school girls kick it off at 4 p.m. and middle school boys at 4:20 p.m. The boys’ junior varsity race begins at 4:45 p.m., girls’ varsity/JV at 5:30 p.m. and boys’ varsity 3.1 miler at 6:15 p.m.

Results from Valley:

Individual boys: 1—Eric Gushee (Good) 17:50. 5—Jack Harris 18:14. 6—Alex Hamlin 18:17. 8—Taylor Sundali 19:07. 9—David Vanderpool 19:16. 15—Lucas Pletcher 19:51.

18—Chris Leblanc 20:03. 30—Dawson Paschall 20:42. 34—Dale Reese 21:03. 36—Cooper Lee 21:24. 39—Conor Davis 21:38. 44—David Kunz and Joseph Zeman 22:16. 56—Kyle Niedrich 23:07. 59—Robbie Hamlin 23:24. 60—Nick Purdy 23:36. 61—Cole Wells 23:41. 62—Josh Flade 23:42. 63—Zach Thornton 24:13. 64—David Risci 24:19. 65—Ted Elgee 24:24. 72—Bryce Moulton 25:29. 74—Josh Risci 26:59. 76—Jack VanPaepeghem 27:05. 78—Josh Thornton 27:43 (83 runners).

Boys’ team: 1—WR 42. 2—Gooding 44. 3—Declo 69. 4—Hansen 135. 5—Kimberly 140. 6—Wells (Nev.) 143. 7—Shoshone 166. 8—Aberdeen 209.

Individual girls: 1—Paige Wyatt (Valley) 23:12. 13—Tess Dahlgren 26:22. 17—Jennifer Spinelli 27:33. 18—Maddie Thies 27:53. 22—Lindsay Niedrich 28:48. 28—Dawn Bird 32:25. 29—Rachel Pace 32:56. 32—Devyn Parnes 34:07. 35—Amanda Moulton 34:19. 41—Georgia Thies 41:49. 42—Amy Loudenslager 45:09 (44 runners).

Girls’ team: 1—Valley 28. 2—Shoshone 50. 3—WR 51.

 

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.