HIGH SCHOOL RUNNERS TO COMPETE IN NATIONAL MEETS IN CALIFORNIA AND OREGON

November 30, 2011—This Saturday will be a big day for high school runners from the Spokane area, as the region’s top harriers head south for post-season meets in California and Oregon. Nearly 50 individuals will be competing in the Foot Locker West Regional Cross Country Championships at Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) in southern California, racing against their counterparts from eleven other Western States. On the same day a boys team from North Central will try to put Spokane in the national spotlight again at Nike Cross Nationals in Portland, Oregon, a meet that North Central won in 2008. Nike Cross Nationals are held at Portland Meadows race track in a meet that features 22 of the nation’s best high school cross country teams, with the winning team crowned the national champion.

The Spokane contingent at the West Regional meet—one of four Foot Locker competitions held across the country—is led by Kendra Weitz of Shadle Park and Andrew Gardner of Mead. The North Central team at Nike Cross Nationals, competing as the North Spokane XC Club, features Kai Wilmot and Keith Williams, who propelled North Central to the state 3A championship this fall. In addition to the North Central team at Nike Cross Nationals, junior Katie Knight of North Central, the state 3A girls’ champion, will be competing as an individual runner.

For the nineteenth straight year, over 30 Spokane-area runners had their airline tickets to the Foot Locker meet donated by the Lilac Bloomsday Association. The Bloomsday Association provides airline tickets and ground transportation to runners based on times at regional cross-country meets held in the fall.

“We are always impressed with the quality of talent coming from Spokane area high schools,” said Lilac Bloomsday Association president Carol Hunter. “Bloomsday is proud to be able to help these runners realize their dreams.”

For runners competing in the Foot Locker West Regional Meet, the top ten boys and girls will advance to the Foot Locker Cross Country Nationals in San Diego on December 10, joining top qualifiers from the Northeast, South and Midwest. Last year three Spokane runners—Andrew Gardner, Nathan Weitz and Kendra Weitz—all qualified for the meet, with Gardner finishing fourth, one of the highest finishers ever by a Spokane runner.

More information on the Foot Locker Regionals and Nationals may be obtained by logging on to www.footlockercc.com/west. Information on Nike Team Nationals is available at www.runnerspace.com/nxn.

Runners sponsored to Foot Locker Meet by the Lilac Bloomsday Association:

Girls
1. Kendra Weitz Shadle Park
2. Cyra Carlson Gonzaga Prep
3. Alex Moore Central Valley
4. Molly Cole Mt. Spokane
5. Taylor Cherry Gonzaga Prep
6. Danielle Maldonado Mead
7. Hannah Allen Lewis & Clark
8. Gracie Ledwith Lewis & Clark
9. Brooklin Young Mt. Spokane
10. Courtney Sherick University
11. Alison Keenan Lewis & Clark
12. Skye Sanders Central Valley
13. Kiah Condos Central Valley
14. Elizabeth Smith University
15. Ciara West Mead
16. Sanne Holland Cheney
17. Jess Mildes Riverside

Boys
1. Andrew Gardner Mead
2. Nathan Weitz Shadle Park
3. Sumner Goodwin Lewis & Clark
4. Hunter Johnson Mt. Spokane
5. Jake Hombel University
6. Joel Estelle Lewis & Clark
7. Conor McCandless Gonzaga Prep
8. John Dressel Mt. Spokane
9. Matt Fry University
10. Nick Hauger Shadle Park
11. Travis Thorne Ferris
12. Daniel Schofield Mead
13. Corey Hunter Central Valley
14. Kees von Michalofski Mt. Spokane
15. Kyler Goins Lewis & Clark
16. Daniel Amann Deer Park
17. Dayde Collins Deer Park

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Early bird registration for Bloomsday is open at bloomsdayrun.org.

Here’s the skinny on the Bloomsday Race this year:

Those who sign up by February 14th will automatically be entered to win a trip for two to the St. Patrick’s Day Dash on March 14, 2010. The winner will receive round-trip airfare for two from Spokane to Seattle, two nights (double occupancy) at the Hampton Inn at the Seattle Center, and free entry into the run.

For more information, visit bloomsdayrun.org.

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OK, here are my requests for musical genres heretofore under-represented on the Bloomsday course: Nordic death metal, dub reggae, electronica, soul/rare groove DJ, a Scorpions cover band, and the one and only Tom Jones live and in person at the finish line. Can you think of anything else we need? If so read the details in this press release:

BLOOMSDAY LOOKING FOR ENTERTAINERS
On-Course Performers Have Until March 11th to Sign Up

Spokane, WA—With just over three months remaining before the 33rd running of the Lilac Bloomsday Run, organizers are looking for bands, drummers, dancers and other performers interested in entertaining participants along the route. Entertainers who would like to perform along the 7-1/2-mile course on May 3 should fill out an application and return it to the Bloomsday office by Wednesday, March 11th.

“Entertainment along the route has become a big part of the Bloomsday experience,” said Bloomsday Course Entertainment Director Dori Robertson. “This is the sixth year we’ve had official performers and a contest to decide which group is best, and this has become a Bloomsday tradition that’s fun for both participants and entertainers.”

Anyone with a song to sing, dance to perform, or any other sort of entertainment to share on race day is invited to apply. Forms are available at the Bloomsday office (1610 W. Riverside), online (www.bloomsdayrun.org) or by contacting the Bloomsday office (838-1579).

Organizers will review applications and select performers by April 2 for the available spaces along the course. Performers must be officially signed up to be eligible to win the 2009 Bloomsday Top Performer award, which will be determined by race entrants who log on and vote after the race. The top three bands will receive prize money of $500, $300, and $200.

Last year’s winner, out of nearly 25 participating groups, was the band Spare Parts, which was located at Ft. George Wright Drive and Elliot Road. Nearly a thousand votes were cast in the competition.

For non-performers, sign-up for the 33rd annual Lilac Bloomsday Run is now available online at www.bloomsdayrun.org.

# # #

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As if you didn’t know. Here’s more evidence comes from this press release from the Lilac Bloomsday Association:

HIGH SCHOOL RUNNERS TO COMPETE IN NATIONAL MEETS IN CALIFORNIA AND OREGON

December 4, 2008—This coming Saturday will be a big day for high school runners from the Spokane area, as the region’s top harriers head south for post-season meets in California and Oregon. Nearly 50 individuals will be competing in the Foot Locker West Regional Cross Country Championships at Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) in southern California, racing against their counterparts from eleven other Western States. On the same day a boys team from North Central High School—which has been ranked as the number-one team in the nation throughout the fall—will try to solidify that ranking at the Nike Cross Nationals, held at Portland Meadows Racetrack, in a race that features 22 of the nation’s best high school cross country teams.

The Spokane contingent at the West Regional meet—one of four Foot Locker competitions held across the country—is led by Baylee Mires of Mead and Adam Thorne of Ferris. The North Central team at Nike Cross Nationals is led by Andrew Kimpel, runnerup at the Washington State Meet this fall, and Jeff Howard, who won the Northwest Region qualifying race for Nike Cross Nationals.

For the sixeenth straight year, over 30 Spokane-area runners had their airline tickets to the Footlocker meet donated by the Lilac Bloomsday Association. The Bloomsday Association provides airline tickets and ground transportation to runners based on times at regional cross-country meets held in the fall.

“This should be an interesting weekend for Spokane’s top high school runners,” said Lilac Bloomsday Association President Jerry O’Neal. “We’re excited to see how the runners we sponsor to the Footlocker Meet do, and the North Central boys have the opportunity to do something no Spokane school has ever done, be crowned as the top cross country team in the nation.”

For runners competing in the Footlocker West Regional Meet, the top ten boys and girls will advance to the Foot Locker Cross Country Nationals in San Diego on December 13, joining top qualifiers from the Northeast, South and Midwest.

More information on the Foot Locker Regionals and Nationals may be obtained by logging on to www.footlockerwest.com. Information on Nike Team Nationals is available at http://www.runnerspace.com/nxn.

_Runners sponsored to Footlocker Meet by the Lilac Bloomsday Association_:

Girls

1. Baylee Mires Mead
2. Andreea Nelson Shadle Park
3. Stevie Gidehaus University
4. Courtney Zalud Mt. Spokane
5. Alicia Doohan Gonzaga Prep
6. Eden Lake Central Valley
7. Molly Cole Mt. Spokane
8. Sarah Craig Mt. Spokane
9. Alison Keenan Lewis & Clark
10. Lauren Bergam East Valley
11. Madi Barnes Central Valley
12. Katie Morris Shadle Park
13. Jamie Lambie Central Valley
14. Hannah Allen Lewis & Clark
15. Afton McKinlay Mt. Spokane
16. Amanda Wilson Riverside

Boys

1. Adam Thorne Ferris
2. Allan Schroeder Mt. Spokane
3. Jordan Baker Mead
4. Jordan Curnutt Mead
5. Tate Kelly Gonzaga Prep
6. Nathan Weitz Shadle Park
7. Kenji Bierig Lewis & Clark
8. Chris Ennis Lewis & Clark
9. Steven Kutsch Mead
10. Sam Magnuson Gonzaga Prep
11. Eric Foss Mead
12. Perry Domini Ferris
13. Alex Kimsey Ferris
14. Justin Zimmerman Ferris
15. Josh Alexander Lakeside
16. Jeff Pope Valley Christian

# # #
*For Immediate Release—December 4, 2008
Contact: Don Kardong—838-1579, donkardong@bloomsdayrun.org*

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