Bulldog boys and girls claim fifth straight district XC titles
FARRAGUT STATE PARK — The Bulldog boys posted the lowest score possible, posting a perfect score of 15, as both the boys and girls teams won their fifth straight 4A Region 1 cross country championship on Thursday at Farragut State Park.
Junior Ephriam Weisz won the boys race in a time of 17:37, followed by Garrett Pierce (17:50), Peik Lund-Andersen (18:01), Cole Dillon (18:03) and Brady Nelson (18:05), as the Bulldogs claimed the top five scoring spots. Tyler McNamee (18:11) and Dutt Rogers (18:38) rounded out the Bulldog boys in action.
It’s the first time the Bulldogs have ever done that on the boys side, and should give the team confidence as it seeks a state trophy next weekend. Kieran Wilder, who did not run on Thursday, will be on the state roster next Saturday.
“We took nine out of the top 10. A lot of depth this year,” said head coach Matt Brass of the two loop course. “It was a tough course. A half mile climb and a half mile decent, a tiring course because of the hill climbs. They went as a strong pack and all held together through the first lap.”
Senior Hannah Davidson won the girls race in 20:08, leading the Bulldogs to a team score of 23.
Kali Scheel finished third in 20:59, Niah Brass fifth in 21:27, Ciera Bailey sixth in 21:34, followed by Farli Boden (22:14), Corina Wallace (22:24) and Sharon Rowe (22:26), who will be a state alternate. Two of their top runners were out of action on Thursday, but will be on the team next week for state in Katherine Kaul and Heather Wallace.
“That’s the beauty of having a team with lots of depth,” said girls coach Angie Brass. “They run well in packs, ran well the second lap of the course, and everyone finished strong with gritty, tough finishes.”
The girls team will contend for a state trophy again, which one remains to be seen.
The state championships are next Saturday at Eagle Island State Park in Boise.
BOYS
TEAM SCORES (Top two to state) — 1, Sandpoint 15. 2, Lakeland 58. 3, Moscow 65.
STATE QUALIFIERS — 1, Ephriam Weisz, Sandpoint, 17:34.4. 2, Garrett Pierce, Sandpoint, 17:50. 3, Peik Lund-Andersen, Sandpoint, 18:01.1. 4, Cole Dillon, Sandpoint, 18:03.9. 5, Brady Nelson, Sandpoint, 18:05.1. 6, Skyler White, Lakeland, 18:11.3. 7, Tyler McNamee, Sandpoint, 18:11.8.
GIRLS
TEAM SCORES (Top 2 to state) — 1, Sandpoint 23. 2, Lakeland 54. 3, Moscow 61.
STATE QUALIFIERS — 1, Hannah Davidson, Sandpoint, 20:08.1. 2, Laurel Hicke, Moscow, 20:35.4. 3, Kali Scheel, Sandpoint, 20:59.2. 4, Isabelle Kirk, Lakeland, 21:20.6. 5, Niah Brass, Sandpoint, 21:27.3. 6, Ciera Bailey, Sandpoint, 21:34. 7, Grace Mikolajczyk, Moscow, 21:44.