FARRAGUT SUPER 1 INVITATIONAL
FARRAGUT STATE PARK, BAYVIEW, ID
19, SEPTEMBER, 2009
By David "Hawaiian Five-Oh" Taylor
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scroll down for Coeur D' Alene H.S. team coverage
HELBING (LAKE CITY) AND GOMEZ (CD'A) SHINE
It is quite possible that the Farragut Invitational may be the most difficult true 5000 meter cross country course in the Northwest. With the startling near 45 degree angle "goat hill" and the extended nearly as steep climb to the heights of Farragut park followed by the drastically steep down hill, this is a course that when you cross the finish line you actually wonder if you just went to hell and back. Legs wobbly, heart projecting out of your chest, lungs burning, etc etc. I speak from personal experience as I ran this course three times, many years ago.
US#15 CJ Helbling, Lake City H.S., 1st 16:29.5
I have personally witnessed all out onslaughts at breaking the 16 minute barrier by Footlocker finalists such as Jason Uhlman (FL 12th 1991), Isaac Hawkins (FL 26th 1996) and Billy Herman (FL 6th 1995). Only Hawkins was able to do, and just barely with a 15:58. I would guarentee that in the history of the course you can count on two hands the number of runners under 16:40 and Cody Helbling of Lake City High School is now one of them with an impressive 16:29.5, 37 second victory at the 2009 Farragut Invitational Running over 15 seconds faster than his time last year, we have good reason to believe that Helbling is matching the hype associated with his top 15 National Individual status.
Think about it, at this crazy course Helbling is 100 meters faster then he was only a year ago. At his level, the elite national level, that is the difference between winning and getting stomped! Apply 15 seconds to his Footlocker National Performance from a year ago and that is the difference between 25th in the nation and 11th!!! So how good is Helbling? Stay tuned for the BOB FIRMAN INVITATIONAL.
US#11 Kinsey Gomez, CD'A H.S., 1st 19:35.1 (wins by 71 seconds!)
Domination occurs very rarely in competitive cross country invitationals. Sure you can go to the small league meet, or some small school race and find that diamond in the rough. However, the Farragut Invititational has produced nationally renowned performances and features top quality Idaho and Washington teams.
Domination is defined in the dictionary as the act of exerting power and control. Kinsey Gomez let one get away from her last year at state, coming in second place in a race that she had the components and tools to win. However in 2009, domination is good word to describe the war path she has been on in her quest to right what went so wrong last year. Lets look at what she has done, in relation to her competitors:
Gomez wins by 40 seconds at the Bonners Ferry Invitational
Gomez wins by 33 seconds at the Tracy Walters Invititational
Gomez wins by 71 seconds at the Farragut Super 1 Invitational
Rarely does one city produce two nationally renowned competitors. 2009 is either an anomoly or the start of something truly great. With the rise of the Coeur D' Alene high boys, Lake City's CJ Helbling, and Couer D'Alene's Gomez, as well as the connection to neighbor Spokane and its Running Legacy, perhaps a Northern Idaho Legacy is in the making...regardless, it is clear that in relation to Gomez, she has an opportunity to do something special this year...
US#26 COEUR D' ALENE BOYS SCORE 28 POINTS IN VICTORY!
Place 5 in top 9! (2,3,6,8,9)
Some may cast aside the significant of the 28 points CD'A scored this year due to the 20 points they achieved in 2008. However, in 2009 the average was almost a minute faster per runner! We first saw a glimpse of what "could be" with this squad at the Tracy Walters Invititational in which they held their own in a field featuring three teams in the national top 15 rankings.
The Curtis led squad is young, tenacious, hungry and it only a breathe away from being a serious contender at the national level. This performance goes a long way to achieving that goal, of having 7 runners competing as 1 mind with 1 purpose.
Southern Idaho has dynasties, teams that have won a lot of state titles and in the case of ascending Highland High of Pocatello High School a National Championship (1984). That is not the case with Northern Idaho, there have been no true dynasties. Spokane has been so successful from prolonged nurturing and effort from alumnis of the past, as has been covered in history updates in recent articles. The CD'A coach is a North Central Alum. The Sandpoint coach and his wife are Sandpoint alum. These programs have been on the rise as of late with "few" down years, but they are moving forward and up to build that team commraderie that prepares young adults with the skills to succeed in life through perspective, hard work, and meaningful relationships. The CD'A boys exemplify that philosophy and are continuing what was started by former CD'A greats such as Chris Cole and Michael Armon. They are creating their own legacy and in the end it will be an outcome which means so much more because of the Journey and Growth they had to undertake to reach that mountain top. I have no doubts they will achieve their goal, which I believe extends beyond the boundaries of the state of Idaho. It will happen, I promise you.
PREVIEW:
US#15 CJ HELBLING, LAKE CITY H.S.
Legendary York coach Joe Newton once said that "the measure of a man is his ability to
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| US#15 CJ HELBLING |
stand ready when his moment of opportunity comes"; CJ Helbling of Lake City high as a tremendous opportunity to distinguish himself from the pack, and send a national message tomorrow at the Super 1 Farragut Invitational.
In 1991, Footlocker (Kinney) All-American Jason Uhlman of Lewiston Idaho ran a breathtaking 16:04 over the incredibly difficult Farragut course. It would take five years for another Footlocker Finalist named Isaac Hawkins of Ferris High School to lower the record to 15:58. No one since has even come close. Will Helbling go for the record in 2009 and in doing so incur the massive rankings bump such an accomplishment would bring? following a remarkable 15:30 performance at the Silverwood Invitational he seems destined to rise to the occasion. Stay tuned!!
US#11 KINSEY GOMEZ, COEUR D' ALENE H.S.
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| US#11 KINSEY GOMEZ |
In 2008, Kinsey Gomez popped onto the regional scene with a remarkable 19:23 on the hill swamped Farragut course. In 2009 Gomez achieved national relevance with a strong 17:57 victory at the Nationally Spotlighted Tracy Walters Invitational and received a national ranking in the aftermath.
Could this be the year that 19 minutes is broken on the brutal Farragut course? We haven't seen such a determined gritty competitor in years, so expect the nationally ranked Gomez to give it a shot! If she gets it done, look for her to definately move into the national top 10 list!
COUER D' ALENE BOYS
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| THE RISING CD'A BOYS! |
In 2008 the boys from Coeur D' Alene scored an amazing 20 points at the Farragut Invitational and went on to place 5th at State. This year they have already destroyed the Northern Idaho competition at the Bonners Ferry Invitational scoring a low 26 points. Additionally they held their own against National Elites in the Super Tracy Walters Invitational placing 3 in the top 22, shocking considering three teams ranked in the top 15 nationally competed. We know that the team is superior to their 08' squad and that they are on the rise nationally. How low will the score be? Will Sophomore Phenom Cody Curtis finally catch Helbling and will the boys from Coeur D' Alene achieve their potential? Stay tuned!!!
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (RESULTS TO FOLLOW MEET)
| DISTANCE | EVENT | TIME |
| 1.5 MILES | MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS | 09:00 AM |
| 5000 METERS | MIDDLE SCHOOL BOYS | 09:20 AM |
| 5000 METERS | JUNIOR VARSITY GIRLS | 09:40 AM |
| 5000 METERS | JUNIOR VARSITY BOYS | 10:10 AM |
| 5000 METERS | VARSITY GIRLS | 10:40 AM |
| 5000 METERS | VARSITY BOYS | 11:10 AM |
| 5000 METERS | CITIZENS OPEN RACE MEN | 11:40 AM |
| 5000 METERS | CITIZENS OPEN RACE WOMEN | 11:40 AM |