Braedt, Davidson pace Bulldog harriers at 4A state XC championships
(Courtesy photo) The Sandpoint boys team crams into their start line slot between Preston and Jerome alongside 15 other teams, as the 4A race was bigger and faster than the 5A race.
(Courtesy photo) Gabe Merithew clocked a 17:11 on the Lewiston Orchards 5K course.
(Courtesy photo) Megan Oulman was one of six Bulldog girls getting their first taste of a state cross country meet.
LEWISTON — Sophomore Nikolai Braedt finished 23rd to just miss out on a state medal in a time of 16:14, leading the Bulldog boys to a ninth place team finish, and junior Paige Davidson clocked a 20:16 to finish 37th and lead the girls team to a 10th place finish on Saturday at the 4A Idaho State Cross Country Championships at Lewiston Orchards.
The race saw the most competitive field in 4A State history, with 15 full boys teams racing in by far the biggest class in the state, as there are now 28 4A schools in Idaho. All told, five Bulldog runners set PRs on the day.
“The state meet was incredibly competitive, fun to see 4A growing and getting stronger,” said Bulldogs head coach Matt Brass, noting the times were much faster than the 5A ranks. “The 4A boys team would have won all divisions this year, and if we’d been in 5A we would have had a chance to trophy.”
Braedt, Jett Lucas and Ephriam Weisz went out in the front pack, with Seth Graham, Kieran Wilder, Brady Nelsen and Gabe Merithew about 8-10 seconds back in a fast first mile that saw the leaders go through in about 4:58. Halfway through the race, the front pack split with Braedt giving chase to the top 20. He set the sophomore school record previously held by Sam Levora, who went on to run for Pac 12 power Washington State.
Fellow sophomore Lucas was close behind, running a 16:25 in 31st place. Weisz ran a 16:49, Wilder moved up to 20th on the all time list with a 16:50, Nelsen ran a 16:56, Graham ran a 16:57 to move to No. 24, and Gabe Merithew ran a 17:11. The boys finish the season with all seven runners on the schools top 25 all-time list, and set the school pack time record with a 16:32 for the top five runners. The previous team pack record was 16:51 set in 2014, and that team placed 3rd in the state.
“This was the strongest 4A State field we’ve seen since we’ve been coaching. With four schools petitioning from 5A to 4A in the past year, as well as Idaho Falls going from two 5A schools to three 4A schools, we are in a great division that will require a step up in competition,” said Brass. “It’s an exciting place to be right now.”
The girls race was equally competitive with 116 racers, with Sandpoint placing 10th behind a strong signature pack. For the first time this season, Davidson led the team at the finish with a 20:16 in 37th place. Close behind was teammate Chloe Braedt in 20:17. Niah Brass ran a 20:36, Corina Wallace a 21:03, Bionce Vincent a 21:11, Mesa Keating a PR of 21:16, and Megan Oulman a PR of 21:35. Brass, a four time state participant, was the only girls with state experience.
“Our girls team ran as a powerful pack all season and continued in that fashion at what turned out to be the fastest and largest 4A girls race in history to cap the season,” said girls coach Angie Brass, noting five of the seven will return. “The leadership of team captains Chloe and Niah was outstanding in leading the girls team to a successful season.”