Panthers are naturally quick runners

TIMBERLAKE – The Cusick High School cross-country team has hit the ground running this season. The Panthers competed at the Highlander Invitational in Shadle Park last Saturday, Sept. 13. Athletes ran by grade level, so there wasn’t really a varsity this time, according to Cusick coach Sophia Larson.

“Everyone ran really well,” Larson said of the Panthers.

Richard Sandwick ran 13:56 for 2.5 miles and placed 20th out of 188 in the junior race. “Richard is focusing on going out faster and running with the front pack to put himself in a position to win, and he did a great job of that on Saturday,” Larson said. “Nick Sandwick ran 15:47 and placed 39th out of 237 freshmen. Nick is really running strong and will surprise some people in our league this year.”

Freshmen Anthony Seale and James Lilya also ran in the freshman race and set new personal bests.

Cusick harriers also placed high at the NWC Josh Wright Memorial Jamboree Monday, Sept. 8 with junior Richard Sandwick winning second place with a time of 13:35. Freshman Nick Sandwick finished 12th at 15:12.

For the One Mile Middle School race, Abram Sandwick won second place with a time of 6:50 and Marshal Eveland placed third at 6:54. Sawyer Bezanson finished fifth at 7:26.

Of the three teams that competed, Cusick middle school boys finished second place with 39 points after Davenport won first with 31 points.

Middle school athletes will run in varsity if there are no middle school races for them to compete in, according to Larson.

At the Timberlake Farragut Invitational in Idaho Saturday, Sept. 6 Richard Sandwick came in 55th place with a time of 18:05. Nick Sandwick, a freshman, clocked in at 21:01 in 142nd place. Lilya and Seale finished at the bottom of the pack with times of 27:21 and 32:45, respectively.

Cusick has four high school runners this year, and one eighth grader, Marshal, who will run sometimes, according to head cross-country coach Sophia Larson.

“Farragut was a good way to shake the rust off and get back into racing mode for Richard,” Larson said. “His brother, Nick, is a freshman, and ran his first official 5K on varsity. Both Sandwick boys are coming off a solid summer of training, so we have high hopes for them this season.”

Larson added that Richard should be battling for the top spot in the district and top three at state.

“Nick is hoping to break his brother’s freshman records and qualify for state,” Larson said. “Saturday was James’ and Anthony’s first high school 5K, and they want a personal record (PR) every race this season.”

In total 37 schools competed. Coming up, the Panthers head to Kettle Falls for the CAN-AM Invitational Saturday, Sept. 20. Varsity races start at 11:40 a.m.

SOPHIA MATTICE-ALDOUS IS A MURROW NEWS FELLOW WORKING DIRECTLY WITH NEWSROOMS AT THE NEWPORT MINER AND RANGE MEDIA THROUGH A PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY. HER REPORTING IS AVAILABLE FOR USE VIA CREATIVE COMMONS WITH CREDIT.