Sandpoint cross country cruises to eight straight regional titles

ATHOL — Sandpoint cross country took care of business Thursday.

The boys and girls sailed to their eighth straight 4A Region 1 titles at Farragut State Park to lock up trips to state next week.

Boys cross country coach Matt Brass said keeping the regional streak is alive shows how tight-knit this team is and their ability to overcome adversity in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

"To us, I think it's just a representation of the program over the years," he said. "We can't control our competition, who shows up and what their strength is for the year. But we can control our controllables, how we're going to come, how we're going to prepare and how we're going to race, and the kids came and they raced great today."

On the boys side, Sandpoint bested Lakeland 50-15. Thirteen Bulldog runners crossed the finish line before Lakeland's No. 1 runner.

On the girls side, the Hawks only had three runners which is not enough to score as a team, so Sandpoint won the district trophy before the meet even started.

Moscow did not compete in regionals. The Bears opted not to race this fall after the Moscow School District reversed course on Sept. 1 and decided to allow its high school teams the opportunity to play this season.

The regional meet certainly had a different feel to it with no Moscow runners and hardly any Lakeland runners, but girls cross country coach Angie Brass said Sandpoint used the event as an opportunity to celebrate a successful season.

"It didn't take away from what they did," she said about the girls' performance, "and how they raced and we came in and ran exactly how we were hoping to run."

In the boys race, senior Nikolai Braedt claimed his third straight regional title with a 16:39.

Braedt said if he could go back and time and tell his freshman self he would win three individual district titles, he would have never believed it.

"At that time, I had no idea how much this team would mean to me and how much I would be enveloped into it and just get from it," he said.

Matt said Braedt is a special athlete.

"He does all the little things right," Matt said. "His mental preparation is always second to none. He has a plan on what he wants to do in a race and how he wants to execute it, and he nearly always gets it done. He is just the epitome of a coachable kid."

Braedt said his teammates are a big reason why he's seen so much success.

"The stronger the team is, the more I want to run," he said.

Jett Lucas, who's been strong all year, came in right behind Braedt, claiming second with a time of 16:54.

Matt said it's amazing to have two high caliber runners who are always willing to challenge each other.

Keegan Nelson (third, 17:15), Slate Fragoso (fourth, 17:35), Ben Ricks (fifth, 17:40), Nathan Roche (sixth, 17:41) and Trey Clark (seventh, 18:15) rounded out Sandpoint's top seven runners. In the boys race, 33 runners competed.

The Bulldogs' second pack consisting of Fragoso, Ricks and Roche stepped up with Clark hampered a bit due to an injury.

Braedt said that effort shows the character of this team.

"Not everyone is going to have a perfect race," he said, "there's going to be someone who falls back, but we can always just adjust as needed and we're all here for each other instead of racing our own race. There's just this powerful feeling you get when you're racing for someone else other than yourself."

In the girls race, junior Mackenzie Suhy-Gregoire emerged out of a strong pack of Sandpoint runners to claim the individual title with a 20:46.

Suhy-Gregoire finished 12th at regionals in 2019. Thursday, she bested her time from last year by well over a minute and finished 45 seconds ahead of the second-place runner.

"She's had a really strong season and it's been such a great progression," Angie said about Suhy-Gregoire. "She did awesome."

Suhy-Gregoire said her dedication paid off.

"It feels like everything I've worked for over the past three years is coming together," she said, "and I'm just showing myself what I've done for my team and when I was up there alone I could feel my teammates running beside me inside my head and that was the most helpful thing ever."

Megan Oulman came in second with a 21:31. Camille Neuder, a senior captain, continued her storybook season by placing third (21:48). Ara Clark took fourth (21:58), Payton Betz captured fifth (22:06), Annaby Kanning placed sixth (23:04) and Quinn Hooper secured seventh (23:17) out of 17 runners.

The Bulldogs were without freshman Grace Rookey, but the rest of the team filled the void left by her absence.

"Peyton, Annaby and Quinn all stepped forward hugely just to help fill the gap," Angie said. "It was a good way to end the season before we head off to state."

Suhy-Gregoire said she feels honored to help the team achieve an eighth straight regional title.

"It's amazing," she said. "Being a part of this team is the greatest gift I've ever had. I've become a whole new person since I joined this team and I love that person that I am very much."

Sandpoint's top seven runners in the girls and boys regional meet will be heading to state along with Rookey.

The 4A state cross country championships are scheduled for Friday, Oct. 30 at the Portneuf Wellness Complex in Pocatello.

4A

BOYS

TEAM SCORES (Winner advances to state) — 1, Sandpoint 15. 2, Lakeland 50.

TOP 10 — 1, Nikolai Braedt, Sandpoint, 16:39. 2, Jett Lucas, Sandpoint, 16:54. 3, Keegan Nelson, Sandpoint, 17:15. 4, Slate Fragoso, Sandpoint, 17:35. 5, Ben Ricks, Sandpoint, 17:40. 6, Nathan Roche, Sandpoint, 17:41. 7, Spencer Clark III, Sandpoint, 18:15. 8, Kasten Grimm, Sandpoint, 18:52. 9, Hunter Dismore, Sandpoint, 18:53. 10, Tyler McNamee, Sandpoint, 19:00.

4A

GIRLS

TEAM SCORES (Winner advances to state) — 1, Sandpoint 15.

TOP 10 — 1, Mackenzie Suhy-Gregorie, Sandpoint, 20:46.3. 2, Megan Oulman, Sandpoint, 21:31.3. 3, Camille Neuder, Sandpoint, 21:48.3. 4, Ara Clark, Sandpoint, 21:58.1. 5, Payton Betz, Sandpoint, 22:06.9. 6, Annaby Kanning, Sandpoint, 23:04.7. 7, Quinn Hooper, Sandpoint, 23:17.9. 8, Markena Gorton, Lakeland, 23:32.5. 9, Tiffany Brown, Sandpoint, 24:07.9. 10, Terra Bode, Sandpoint, 24:47.1.