Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
The new Garfield/Palouse cross country program is in its third season, with 31 kids out for the high school and middle school teams. The number is up from 15 in its first year, for a program started by coaches Chris Cook and Corey Laughary.
Garfield/Palouse has never had a cross-country team before.
“We’re tickled to death at what it’s become,” said Cook, a former triple and long-jumper for WSU and current Palouse city councilman.
Last year the Vikings sent three high school runners to the state meet in Pasco: Anais Mills, who finished 16th overall for 1B, now a senior; Sam Snekvik for the boys, now a junior, and Dawson Dugger, now a senior, but who chose not to run this year.
“I lost my big fish on the line,” said Cook.
Varsity returners this fall include junior Ethan Cook, senior Logan Diets, sophomore Brandon Hallan and junior Danny Laughary.
Cook and Corey Laughary are joined by Cody Kritzeck this year on the coaching staff.
Who is the head coach?
“Three guys trying to get this done,” Cook said.
It all started with Cook talking to the school administration – he was a school board member from 2012-19.
“We wanted to be sure we had some non-traditional sports in the fall,” said Cook.
Practices
A cross country team requires just five runners to have a scoring team.
The Gar/Pal team holds practice in Palouse, for which Cook handles alternate workouts such as early morning or night sessions if needed while Laughary runs the day-to-day after-school practices.
Training includes traditional runs and “intervals,” which are eight to 12 consecutive 400-meter runs which mimic certain paces on each. The team practices at Hayton Greene Park, downtown Palouse and up at the cemetery.
Their shirts say “We Run This Town” and “Megistanis” - Latin for nobility and honor.
Latest meets
Gar/Pal ran at the Connell Invitational Sept. 29 on a windy and cold Saturday, with 26 high school teams.
“It was a character test. I like those,” Cook said.
Gar/Pal sophomore Samantha Snekvik finished 38th. Top boy for the Vikings was Ethan Cook, finishing 66th.
A week before, at the Nike Battle for the 509 in Cheney Sept. 22, Gar/Pal competed with 45 high school teams at The Fairways Golf Course.
Kennedy Cook highlighted the day with an eighth-place finish in the freshman girls’ race.
Garfield/Palouse will go next to the 23-team Inland Empire Challenge Saturday in Lewiston.
Overall, the Viking coaches like what they have seen since the start in 2017.
“We’re in the growth phase of the development plan,” said Cook. “We really are using running as a platform for development of character and leadership... Helping them to see something in themselves that they may not have seen before.”
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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