Washington, Utah, Idaho powers collide at Bob Firman Invite

By Doug Binder, Dyestat editor

One way or another, the outcome of Saturday's Bob Firman Invitational will help to shape the first round of regional and national team rankings, particularly in the Northwest.

Idaho's most influential regular season meet is a blockbuster on the boys side this year, with preseason US#2 Gig Harbor (Washington), US#6 North Central (Washington), US#30 Nathan Hale (Washington), US#37 Kamiakin (Washington), US#42 California (California), US#65 Davis (Utah), US#86 Pocatello (Idaho) ad US#120 Centennial (Nevada).

Defending indivdual champion Joe Hardy from Seattle Prep won't be there, but runner-up Kai Wilmot is back to lead North Central and the race up front figures to include Pocatello junior Elijah Armstrong, Mt. Spokane senior John Dressel and Utah's top runner, Kramer Morton of Alta.

Gig Harbor wasn't at Bob Firman in 2012 but the team coached by elite 800-meter runner Mark Wieczorek is looking for a postive result.

"We're focused on making sure we're doing everything right and staying healthy," Wieczorek said. "Our biggest focus is doing well at state and we'll take everything after that one step at at a time."

Gig Harbor got out of the gates in a big way last Saturday at the Sundodger Invitational in Seattle, with its top four crossing the line together in the 15:08-09 range on a fast 4,922-meter course. (The meet results were entered into TFX as 3 miles for elite ranking purposes).

"The plan was (for them) to go together. They ran fast and the course does run fast and is a little short," Wieczorek said.

One Gig Harbor runner who did compete at Bob Firman last year is Mahmoud Moussa, who was a member of Arcadia's national championship team last year. (He was 45th at Firman).

Moussa's transfer was a development that may have moved Gig Harbor into national championship contending position. Of course, Christian Brothers (New Jersey), American Fork (Utah) and Moussa's old teammates at Arcadia will have their say in that effort as well.

Moussa has fit in with a strong group that already featured Wolfgang Beck, Tristan Peloquin and Logan Carroll.

"With our group, one of the cool things is that whether you're the 110th kid or the first all of the kids fit in really well," Wieczorek said. "(Mahmoud) loves to hang out with the guys and run. The guys were all meeting together over the summer. When I came back from Europe (and pro racing), he was just one of the guys."

Moussa gives Gig Harbor a link to the NXN Championship. He knows what it takes to get there.

But Wieczorek is quick to point out that Arcadia didn't win the Bob Firman Invitational last year (the Apaches were second to North Central, 47-127).

"It will be fun to go out thre and give (the guys) a chance to compete," the coach said. "They worked hard all summer. It's a long time (until) the state meet so it's good for them individually to see where they are, whatever happens."

Defending champion North Central, of course, like to compete at Eagle Island State Park as well.

Coach Jon Knight's team came away victorious twice in 2012, winning the September Bob Firman meet and then coming back to win NXN Northwest in November.

While many schools in the Northwest don't want to make two trips to Boise each fall, there is some advantage to being familiar with the national championship-qualifyin course. North Central is a fixture at the North Central meet.

A Gig Harbor vs. North Central showdown is worth the price of admission and an early indicator of Washington state supremacy. Six other teams ranked in Rob Monroe's preseason Top 120 add even more spice.

Over on the girls side, there is a competitive team battle brewing that includes US#21 Coeur d'Alene (Idaho),  US#22 Davis (Utah), US#24 American Fork (Utah), US#38 Mountain Crest (Utah), US#39 Ogden, US#58 Mira Costa (California) and US#86 Boise (Idaho). The five best girls teams in Utah are in the meet.

After a three-year stranglehold on the individual title, the graduation of North Central's Katie Knight has opened up the race individually. Sarah Feeny of Ogden, Lucy Biles of Herriman and Emily Hamlin of Boise are the chief individual contenders.