DyeStat


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Northwest Region
Boise ID November 10, 2007

Preview

Rematch of top boys teams -
first meeting of top girls teams.


by Dave Devine
assistant DyeStat news editor and DyeStat Northwest regional editor


At the Bob Firman Invitational in Boise, Idaho, this past September 22nd, several teams which are expected to be among the top clubs to compete in the inaugural Northwest NTN Regional on November 10th, traveled to Eagle Island State Park to survey the course and test the competitive waters. That meet had impacts on the DyeStat Northwest regional rankings which continue to this day.

Crater OR boys, ranked NW#4 at the time, upended then NW#1 North Central WA in the boys elite race,
and seized a number one ranking they've carried the remainder of the season. Both teams have
state meets this weekend, in which they are heavily favored, and then runners from both schools,
entered as Crater RC and North Central XC Club in the regional race, will stage what should be
a memorable rematch on the same Eagle Island course.

As the entries currently stand, those two will be joined in that championship race by six other
clubs with runners from schools currently ranked in the DyeStat regional top ten. Stark Street AC (Central
Catholic OR), Mead XC Team (Mead WA), Veradale XC Club (Central Valley WA), Portland
Harriers (Jesuit OR), Seattle Prep TC (Seattle Prep WA) and Kodiak Harriers (Kodiak AK) are
all entered and expected to contend.

The girls' Northwest NTN Regional championship race presents a slightly more intriguing match-
up, based on current entries. Highly-regarded clubs representing schools from throughout the
region who did not face each other this season, will meet for the first time in Boise.

Runners from season-long NW#1 Jesuit OR will compete as the Portland Harriers, meeting a club
from NW#2 Bozeman MT entered as the Bozeman XC Club, with runners who have gone undefeated in
Montana competitions throughout the fall. Journeying from far north in Alaska will be West Anchorage RC,
comprised of runners from NW#7 West Anchorage High, yet another team that hasn't met
serious Northwest competition outside of their own state. They've had a long layoff since winning the Alaska state championship last month. The Boise Striders, with runners from recent Idaho 5A champs and NW#4
Boise High, have faced some out-of-state Northwest competition, but none of the three teams mentioned above, and will race on a course that is essentially in their backyard, with the advantage of familiarity and a home crowd.

These four will be joined by other clubs representing schools in the DyeStat NW top ten,
including Blues XC Club (St. Mary's Academy OR), Snohomish RC (Snohomish WA),
and Lake Samm XC Club (Eastlake WA).




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