Crunch time for Cheney runners

It was a quiet past week for Cheney cross country with the “storm” ahead with the finish of the Greater Spokane League’s regular season.

The Blackhawk teams had a “bye” week of sorts prior to meets in the next two weeks that engage the GSL contenders.

The Blackhawks traveled to a meet at Ferris which also featured Ridgeline on Oct. 16 and on Oct. 22 face Mt. Spokane and Lewis and Clark in Spokane.

“The crew is getting healthier and working on their last training block of the year really trying to push to another level,” head coach Derek Slaughter wrote in an email speaking to what went on in the off week from competition.

Looking ahead to the final two weeks of GSL meets, Slaughter suggested, “We have a chance to finish the season well.”

“We only have one loss so far and really want to go into GSL No. 4 (Mt. Spokane and LC) with a chance to win our first GSL title,” Slaughter added.

Mt. Spokane is seen as the prime obstacle as the Wildcats (123) were runners up to Seattle Prep (80) at the 2023 3A finals in Pasco with Cheney seventh (167).

“LC and Mt. Spokane will be tough,” Slaughter said, noting, however, that LC recently popped onto the contenders’ radar. The Tigers just beat Mt. Spokane at Hole in the Wall in Arlington, Wash. for the first time this year. LC was seventh (203) and Mt. Spokane 10th (259) behind team champ, Coeur d’Alene (115).

Slaughter reported that Mt. Spokane is missing their No. 3 runner, “Which opens the door for us to be a little more competitive in the race.”

“LC has a really tight pack like we do,” he said. “It really will come down to what team wants it the most.”