‘Makes me want to run faster.’ Boise cross country wins state behind sophomore standouts

Among the crowd of spectators lining Poplar Lane was 12-year-old Luke Bruce, who was shouting as loud as he could to make sure his older sister could hear him as she ran past.

Bruce doesn’t usually skip school at Hillside Junior High, but this was a special occasion. He was going to cheer his sister to a state championship.

Allie Bruce heard her little brother’s encouragement loud and clear, and she bested Boise High teammate Sammy Smith in a sprint to the finish for the 5A girls individual title at the state cross country meet Friday at Eagle Island State Park.

“It makes a big difference, every single race I hear him, it makes me want to run faster,” Allie Bruce said. “With all the people cheering for me, I was like: ‘Oh, my gosh.’ I haven’t been in a race like that in a long time. It felt amazing.”

Bruce won the 5-kilometer race in a time of 17 minutes, 47.9 seconds, and Smith — the defending individual champ — clocked a 17:52.3 to help the Brave win a fourth consecutive team championship.

All seven of Boise’s runners placed among the top 25 as the Brave totaled 27 points — 12 points shy of a perfect score. Rocky Mountain was second with 113 points, the highest finish in program history, while Mountain View won a tiebreaker with Eagle for the third-place trophy after both teams totaled 115 points.

Boise’s other individual placers were senior Logan Smith (seventh), senior Annika Zuschlag (ninth), junior Lydia Nance (11th), senior Jamie Hamlin (12th) and junior Kayla Wiechowski (23rd).

“These girls, they’re just so much fun to be around. Their work ethic is unmatchable,” Boise coach Aaron Olswanger said. “They’re just so competitive when they get out there. They have those things you just can’t teach as a coach. They get nervous like everyone else, but they channel it the right way.”

Bruce, a sophomore, finished third at last year’s state meet and was the runner-up to Smith in both the 1,600 and 3,200 meters at state track in the spring. The two took turns beating each other this cross country season, and Bruce pointed out that Smith was dealing with a leg injury Friday.

They also play together on Boise’s varsity girls soccer team, along with several other cross country teammates.

“At least with me and Sammy, it just depends on who’s better on the day, so it easily could have gone the other way,” Bruce said. “I happened to win today, so I am really happy with that.”

Rocky Mountain boys top podium

Rocky Mountain’s five scoring runners placed among the top 15 as the Grizzlies upended defending 5A state champion Idaho Falls.

It was the fifth state title in program history and not far removed from Rocky’s back-to-back-to-back championships from 2016 to 2018.

Rocky Mountain finished with 40 points to Idaho Falls’ 56, one year after the Grizzlies took second to the Tigers at the state meet in Pocatello. Rocky’s victory also ended an Idaho Falls run of four straight team titles spanning the 4A and 5A classifications.

“It was just a war of attrition,” Rocky Mountain coach Jeff Howard said. “It was pretty even through the first loop at Eagle Island, and then our group has found a pretty good racing identity as a strong pack, and I think our depth really came through for us today.”

Idaho Falls sophomore Luke Athay won the individual title in 15:19.8, followed by Rocky Mountain runners Trent Wigod (15:37.0) and Landon Heemeyer (15:56.3) in second and third, respectively. Keith Uitdewilligen (11th), Zac Pollock (12th), Tyler Sainsbury (15th), Cayden Tupper (18th) and Aiden Stephenson (36th) also contributed to the Grizzlies’ blue-trophy performance.

“Besides Trent, who’s been our No. 1 all year, our two, three, four and five have been pretty interchangeable,” Howard said. “So that’s been exciting to coach these guys, because they really race as a unit. It’s almost like musical chairs some days.”

4A: Preston girls, Blackfoot boys victorious

After Skyline sophomore Nelah Roberts crossed the finish line, it was nearly 30 seconds before another runner appeared.

Roberts completed the 5k course in 17:53.3 — well ahead of second-place Bailey Bird (18:21.2) of Pocatello — to repeat as the 4A girls individual champion.

The Preston girls claimed their first title at the 4A level since 2008, while the Blackfoot boys ended a much longer drought with their victory. Blackfoot won four titles in a row from 1972-75, and this year’s championship was the Broncos’ first since then.

Senior Eli Gregory (15:43.0) and junior Matt Thomas (15:46.4) delivered a one-three finish to lead Blackfoot, which held off second-place Preston, 44 to 57.

The Middleton girls (sixth) and Bishop Kelly boys (fifth) were the top placers among Treasure Valley teams.

3A: Another title for Sugar-Salem

The Diggers’ boys team brought home its seventh straight 3A state title. But Sugar-Salem fell two points shy of its fifth consecutive girls title, watching Snake River claim the coveted trophy instead.

Fruitland senior Emma Hillam was the top Treasure Valley finisher, taking second in the girls individual race at 18:53.6 — 6.8 seconds behind Coeur d’Alene Charter’s McKenna Kozeluh.

McCall-Donnelly junior Jack McManus was the top local finisher on the boys side. He took third at 16:53.2 — 33.9 seconds behind Snake River’s Keegan McGraw.

2A: Mylander wins with best time

Nampa Christian senior Grady Mylander took home the 2A boys individual title at 15:18.8, the fastest time posted in any division at the state meet.

The title is the first cross country state championship for Mylander, the reigning 2A state track champ in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200. He edged Salmon’s Daniel Simmons, who finished 3 seconds behind for the second fastest time over the weekend at Eagle Island State Park.

Mylander’s finish helped the Trojans earn the third-place trophy with 87 points, 27 behind North Fremont.

Ambrose junior Cameron Moore made it a Treasure Valley sweep of individual honors with a victory in the girls race at 19:05.8 — 29.2 seconds ahead of Bear Lake’s Elise Kelsey.

Salmon won the girls team title with Melba bringing home the fourth-place trophy.

1A: Victory Charter boys repeat

Junior Ian Stockett finished atop the podium at 15:59.2 after medaling twice before, leading Victory Charter to the 1A boys team title with 53 points.

Stockett finished 10.3 seconds ahead of Grace’s Cole Wilkerson and 25.5 seconds ahead of younger brother Luke Stockett, who finished third for the Nampa charter school.

Logos took home the girls team title for the first time. And Raft River sophomore Allie Black finished first in the girls individual race at 19:20.7 — 16.3 seconds ahead of Greenleaf freshman Anna Dixon.

5A State Meet

Friday

At Eagle Island State Park

Girls team scores: 1, Boise 27. 2, Rocky Mountain 113. 3, Mountain View 115. 4, Mountain View 115. 5, Highland 145. 6, Thunder Ridge 159. 7, Post Falls 180. 9, Timberline 196. 10, Meridian 215. 11, Coeur d’Alene 265.

Girls top individuals

1, Allie Bruce, Boise, 17:47.9.

2, Samantha Smith, Boise, 17:52.3.

3, Annastasia Peters, Post Falls, 18:00.3.

4, Malia Lowe, Kuna, 18:06.0.

5, Samantha Wood, Post Falls, 18:11.6.

6, Rilyn Stevens, Mountain View, 18:18.3.

7, Logan Smith, Boise, 18:26.8.

8, Courtney Earl, Thunder Ridge, 18:27.6.

9, Annika Zuschlag, Boise, 18:39.5.

10, Brooklyn Lowry, Mountain View, 18:47.7.

11, Lydia Nance, Boise, 18:48.0.

12, Jamie Hamlin, Boise, 18:48.9.

13, Brighton Heywood, Rocky Mountain, 19:05.9.

14, Allie Hipwell, Eagle, 19:07.6.

15, Elanor Eddington, Idaho Falls, 19:08.8.

16, Tiffany Thomas, Capital, 19:10.2.

17, Afton Fillmore, Eagle, 19:10.2.

18, Kaleena Narus, Timberline, 19:13.0.

19, Audrey Chitwood, Mountain View, 19:13.4.

20, Hannah Bailey, Highland, 19:14.2.

Boys team scores: 1, Rocky Mountain 40. 2, Idaho Falls 56. 3, Boise 81. 4, Rigby 149. 5, Thunder Ridge 175. 6, Eagle 182. 7, Mountain View 196. 8, Coeur d’Alene 197. 9, Centennial 203. 10, Timberline 238. 11, Lewiston 273.

Boys top individuals

1, Luke Athay, Idaho Falls, 15:19.8.

2, Trent Wigod, Rocky Mountain, 15:37.0.

3, Landon Heemeyer, Rocky Mountain, 15:56.3.

4, Clay Shumaker, Skyview, 16:02.1.

5, Kaden Helder, Boise, 16:05.1.

6, Nico Sanchez, Idaho Falls, 16:05.8.

7, Andrew Ringert, Eagle, 16:06.4.

8, Cooper Andrews, Thunder Ridge, 16:07.6.

9, Benjamin Ricks, Rigby, 16:10.2.

10, Jaiden Liddle, Idaho Falls, 16:10.5.

11, Keith Uitdewilligen, Rocky Mountain, 16:10.9.

12, Zac Pollock, Rocky Mountain, 16:11.2.

13, Noe Kemper, Boise, 16:12.7.

14, Seth Bingham, Thunder Ridge, 16:13.6.

15, Tyler Sainsbury, Rocky Mountain, 16:18.6.

16, Ryan Stutz, Madison, 16:20.1.

17, Nate Stadtlander, Meridian, 16:24.2.

18, Cayden Tupper, Rocky Mountain, 16:25.2.

19, Kobe Wessels, Lewiston, 16:26.5.

20, Jacob Van Orden, Highland, 16:27.8.

4A State Meet

Friday

At Eagle Island State Park

Girls team scores: 1, Preston 59. 2, Pocatello 89. 3, Skyline 119. 4, Twin Falls 152. 5, Sandpoint 173. 6, Middleton 177. 7, Blackfoot 204. 8, Bonneville 210. 9, Mountain Home 240. 10, Bishop Kelly 257. 11, Jerome 267. 12, Burley 269. 13, Moscow 314. 14, Vallivue 326. 15, Ridgevue 338.

Girls top individuals

1, Nelah Roberts, Skyline, 17:53.3.

2, Bailey Bird, Pocatello, 18:21.2.

3, Angelie Scott, Preston, 19:19.2.

4, Kayelee Austin, Middleton, 19:23.9.

5, Addie McCallister, Middleton, 19:25.5.

6, Maddy Larsen, Blackfoot, 19:26.4.

7, McKinley Scott, Preston, 19:29.2.

8, Hailey Renzello, Pocatello, 19:31.8.

9, Olivia Kendell, Burley, 19:35.2.

10, Alivia Johnson, Bonneville, 19:35.6.

11, Kennedy Kunz, Bonneville, 19:40.6.

12, Taylor Bunderson, Pocatello, 19:48.4.

13, Julia Gilbert, Mountain Home, 19:49.9.

14, Oakley Reid, Preston, 19:54.5.

15, Anna Gilbert, Mountain Home, 19:57.4.

16, Alexia Corona, Ridgevue, 19:58.2.

17, Tenley Kirkbride, Preston, 19:58.6.

18, Maren Leffler, Preston, 19:59.1.

19, Emily Despain, Blackfoot, 20:04.3.

20, Elly Jeppsen, Preston, 20:05.0.

Boys team scores: 1, Blackfoot 44. 2, Preston 57. 3, Twin Falls 111. 4, Pocatello 127. 5, Bishop Kelly 132. 6, Skyline 146. 7, Sandpoint 190. 8, Moscow 200. 9, Burley 234. 10, Vallivue 265. 11, Canyon Ridge 301. 12, Ridgevue 327. 13, Emmett 349. 14, Jerome 371. 15, Shelley 414.

Boys top individuals

1, Eli Gregory, Blackfoot, 15:43.0.

2, Stockton Stevens, Twin Falls, 15:46.2.

3, Matt Thomas, Blackfoot, 15:46.4.

4, Edison Leffler, Preston, 15:58.2.

5, Sunny Gunn, Pocatello, 16:04.2.

6, Garrett Hale, Preston, 16:04.2.

7, Aaron Bradshaw, Burley, 16:06.1.

8, Justin Whitehead, Blackfoot, 16:14.6.

9, Austin Clough, Bishop Kelly, 16:17.0.

10, Daniel Russell, Bishop Kelly, 16:23.1.

11, JT Morgan, Blackfoot, 16:24.2.

12, Samuel Fish, Vallivue, 16:29.8.

13, Ridge Wilding, Skyline, 16:32.0.

14, Reynger Davidsavor, Preston, 16:34.0.

15, Anthony Botch, Twin Falls, 16:39.4.

16, Luke Visser, Preston, 16:45.5.

17, Derek Schultz, Mountain Home, 16:46.1.

18, Gage Cordner, Preston, 16:46.4.

19, Tyler Stoker, Bishop Kelly, 16:46.5.

20, Brody Kemble, Middleton, 16:51.2.

3A State Meet

Saturday

At Eagle Island State Park

Girls team scores: 1, Snake River 67. 2, Sugar-Salem 69. 3, South Fremont 82. 4, Weiser 126. 5, Kimberly 162. 6, Parma 177. 7, Coeur d’Alene Charter 187. 9, Filer 215. 10, Fruitland 218. 11, Timberlake 274.

Girls top individuals

1, McKenna Kozeluh, Coeur d’Alene Charter, 18:46.8.

2, Emma Hillam, Fruitland, 18:53.6.

3, Jaresa Jackson, Sugar-Salem, 19:25.2.

4, Cecily Eagleton, South Fremont, 19:32.6.

5, Kailee Lerew, Weiser, 19:41.1.

6, Kylee Quinton, Weiser, 19:41.3.

7, Hailey Raymond, Snake River, 20:00.9.

8, Ryley Klingler, Sugar-Salem, 20:05.1.

9, Ainslee Miller, Snake River, 20:06.7.

10, Reagan Van Orden, Snake River, 20:10.7.

11, Alli Stastny, Kimberly, 20:11.0.

12, Christa Edler, Filer, 20:11.1.

13, Maya Kelsey, Filer, 20:30.5.

14, Sage Lyon, South Fremont, 20:38.9.

15, Breklynn Gee, South Fremont, 20:40.0.

16, Hailey Dalling, Sugar-Salem, 20:48.1.

17, Kendall Rynearson, Weiser, 20:55.1.

18, Sophia Dougherty, Sugar-Salem, 21:00.7.

19, Mckenzie Winegar, South Fremont, 21:00.9.

20, Allister Dillow, Snake River, 21:03.9.

Boys team scores: 1, Sugar-Salem 42. 2, Snake River 47. 3, Kimberly 117. 4, Fruitland 143. 5, South Fremont 145. 6, Buhl 161. 7, Timberlake 208. 8, Parma 218. 9, McCall-Donnelly 232. 10, Coeur d’Alene Charter 239. 11, Bonners Ferry 268. 12, Marsh Valley 313.

Boys top individuals

1, Keegan McCraw, Snake River, 16:19.3.

2, Lincoln High, Snake River, 16:21.2.

3, Jack McManus, McCall-Donnelly, 16:53.2.

4, Brigham Dalling, Sugar-Salem, 16:57.6.

5, Mason Smith, Sugar-Salem, 16:59.9.

6, Logan Davis, Coeur d’Alene Charter, 17:03.5.

7, Porter Holt, Sugar-Salem, 17:06.4.

8, Grayden Devries, Kimberly, 17:07.0.

9, Jacob Barnhart, Timberlake, 17:10.3.

10, Connor Alexander, Bonners Ferry, 17:11.1.

11, Mason Lewis, Sugar-Salem, 17:12.2.

12, Connor Beck, South Fremont, 17:13.9.

13, Makai Peak, Kellogg, 17:14.8.

14, Leo High, Snake River, 17:23.4.

15, Brock Goodwin, Snake River, 17:24.2.

16, Dylan Ball, Sugar-Salem, 17:24.9.

17, George Spiers, McCall-Donnelly, 17:26.0.

18, Rylan Anderson, Snake River, 17:27.0.

19, Parker Dupree, Sugar-Salem, 17:28.3.

20, Bronson Beus, Parma, 17:33.4.

2A State Meet

Saturday

At Eagle Island State Park

Girls team scores: 1, Salmon 62. 2, Soda Springs 66. 3, Malad 86. 4, Melba 116. 5, Cole Valley Chrisitan 125. 6, Ambrose 150. 7, Declo 155. 8, Ririe 184. 9, North Fremont 210.

Girls top individuals

1, Cameron Moore, Ambrose, 19:05.8.

2, Elise Kelsey, Bear Lake, 19:35.0.

3, Aubrie Barzee, West Side, 19:39.9.

4, Johanna Ebert, West Side, 19:45.8.

5, Kinsee Hansen, Bear Lake, 19:51.5.

6, Kynzie Nielson, Firth, 19:52.2.

7, Jessica Duran, Wendell, 19:53.1.

8, Abby Williams, Salmon, 20:01.4.

9, Hannah Evans, Soda Springs, 20:08.1.

10, Liza Boone, Ririe, 20:09.7.

11, Rozzlyn Cazier, Melba, 20:10.0.

12, Brynlee Bastian, Malad, 20:18.3.

13, Keelin Stewart, Cole Valley Christian, 20:23.5.

14, Sara Deschaine, Salmon, 20:26.0.

15, Rebekah Evans, Soda Springs, 20:27.1.

16, Cally Coleman, Malad, 20:27.8.

17, Brylin Bills, Salmon, 20:29.2.

18, Sedona Cannon, Salmon, 20:29.4.

19, Cortlyn Coleman, Malad, 20:32.4.

20, Brooklyn Dayley, Melba, 20:42.3.

Boys team scores: 1, North Fremont 60. 2, Salmon 64. 3, Nampa Christian 87. 4, West Side 116. 5, Soda Springs 131. 6, Valley 139. 7, Ririe 172. 8, Melba 183. 9, Cole Valley Christian 185. 10, Ambrose 240.

Boys top individuals

1, Grady Mylander, Nampa Christian, 15:15.8.

2, Daniel Simmons, Salmon, 15:18.8.

3, Corbin Johnston, North Fremont, 16:11.5.

4, Zack Johnston, North Fremont, 16:16.6.

5, Kyle Christensen, Valley, 16:21.3.

6, Kayden Gentry, Soda Springs, 16:21.4.

7, Max Palmer, North Fremont, 16:30.5.

8, Hyrum Spencer, West Jefferson, 16:36.8.

9, Josh Lady, Nampa Christian, 16:45.8.

10, Kohlbin Bragg, Salmon, 16:49.0.

11, Bradyn Noreen, West Side, 17:14.0.

12, Grant Clawson, West Side, 17:14.8.

13, Nathan Deschaine, Salmon, 17:16.7.

14, Gary McEwen, Soda Springs, 17:17.4.

15, Tyler Saunders, Bear Lake, 17:21.9.

16, Brigham Renfroe, Soda Springs, 17:32.8.

17, Samuel Beutler, West Side, 17:33.9.

18, Eric Anderson, North Fremont, 17:38.0.

19, Strider Perry, Firth, 17:38.3.

20, Ravio Manzer, Melba, 17:38.9.

1A State Meet

Saturday

At Eagle Island State Park

Girls team scores: 1, Logos 39. 2, Raft River 41. 3, Victory Charter 50. 4, Grace 103. 5, Butte County 154. 6, Dietrich 157. 7, Troy 173.

Girls top individuals

1, Allie Black, Raft River, 19:20.7.

2, Anna Dixon, Greenleaf, 19:37.0.

3, Kamber Smith, Rockland, 19:43.3.

4, Taylor Redick, Challis, 19:54.9.

5, Sara Casebolt, Logos, 19:59.9.

6, Clara Anderson, Logos, 20:12.7.

7, Megan Royer, Victory Charter, 20:13.8.

8, Ashlee Christensen, Raft River, 20:22.9.

9, Grace Dixon, Greenleaf, 20:32.4.

10, Allee Larson, Oakley, 20:39.8.

11, Alyssa Blum, Logos, 20:40.1.

12, Casey Collom, Liberty Charter, 20:40.7.

13, Allie Hacking, Victory Charter, 20:45.3.

14, Alayna Babcock, Butte County, 20:56.8.

15, Greta Leitheiser, Sun Valley, 21:01.8.

16, Lauren Skaug, Victory Charter, 21:19.7.

17, Haven Campbell, Raft River, 21:21.6.

18, Heidi Harper, Raft River, 21:23.5.

19, Kaelle Steele, Victory Charter, 21:26.3.

20, Grace Tiegs, Nezperce, 21:37.5.

Boys team scores: 1, Victory Charter 53. 2, Rockland 70. 3, Grace 75. 4, Logos 90. 5, Liberty Charter 120. 6, Butte County 176. 7, Oakley 191. 8, Rimrock 214. 9, North Star Charter 223. 10, Troy 242.

Boys top individuals

1, Ian Stockett, Victory Charter, 15:59.2.

2, Cole Wilkerson, Grace, 16:09.5.

3, Luke Stockett, Victory Charter, 16:24.7.

4, Ezra Hubbard, Rockland, 16:54.7.

5, Leo Magana, Oakley, 17:03.7.

6, Kawika Schlenker, Liberty Charter, 17:04.6.

7, Lincoln Holladay, Oakley, 17:05.0.

8, Connor-Dougl Robbins, Victory Charter, 17:10.5.

9, Jon Brunko, Greenleaf, 17:11.4.

10, Clay Kent, Richfield, 17:21.2.

11, Zach Atwood, Logos, 17:27.9.

12, Orrin Wiese, Rockland, 17:32.0.

13, Jacob Ward, Rockland, 17:35.5.

14, Kade Johnson, Grace, 17:35.8.

15, Ashton Drage, Carey, 17:40.4.

16, Jaten Hymas, Butte County, 17:46.2.

17, Ty Gilbert, Grace, 17:48.6.

18, Theo Sentz, Logos, 17:49.7.

19, Nicky Neagu, Liberty Charter, 17:50.4.

20, Loyd Boren, Rimrock, 17:54.0.