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KETTLE FALLS — At the CAN-AM Invitational Saturday, Sept. 19 in Kettle Falls, the Panthers finished as the top 1B school, placing seventh out of 13 teams.
This was the Panthers’ first time scoring as a team, coach Sophia Larson says.
“We went into this race wanting to finish as the top 1B school, and we were,” Larson says.
In the varsity boys 5,000-meter, senior Richard Sandwick led Cusick with a time of 17:34, finishing ninth of 92 runners overall.
Close behind was freshman Marshal Eveland, who clocked in at 18:47 — a new personal best. Eveland finished 25th, later earning the honor of Cusick’s Boys Runner of the Week.
“He is quickly learning how to race a 5K,” Larson says. “His mental toughness and natural ability to race make him one to watch out for this season.”
Eighth-grader Abram Sandwick clocked in at 19:32, finishing 32nd, and sophomore Nick Sandwick clocked in at 20:53, finishing 55th. Like Eveland, Abram Sandwick ran a very competitive race, nearly matching his time from last week.
“The gaps between our first, second, third and fourth runner were tight,” Larson says.
Two other Panthers set season bests: sophomore James Lilya, who finished 82nd with a time of 23:24, and eighth-grader Jeff Lilya, who finished 92nd with a time of 28:43.
“Our team ran well as a whole,” Larson says.
Cusick next ran at Newport High School for the NE2B League Meet Tuesday, Sept. 22, after The Miner’s weekly deadline. Next week, Tuesday, Sept. 29, they run at the Short Game Golf Course in Curlew Lake for NE 1B/2B League #2, with the varsity boys 5,000-meter at 5 p.m.
