IDAHO STATE MEET

Ninth-Ranked Coeur d'Alene Boys Win Idaho 5A state title, Skyline's Nelah Roberts Becomes Idaho's First 4-Time Girls Cross Country Champion

Story and Photos by Marlowe Hereford for DyeStat

POCATELLO, Idaho – Historic accomplishments were everywhere Saturday at the Idaho state cross country championships at Portneuf Wellness Complex.

In the larger classifications, the Coeur d'Alene boys' undefeated season rolled on with their first 5A boys state championship since 2011 and Timberline beat five-time defending champion Boise by 12 points to win a program-first 5A girls state title.

That victory included a first individual win, as well, from freshman Ruby Ihmels (18:06.86) on a snow-covered course. 

The Vikings had five finishers in the top 20 – Max Cervi-Skinner (sixth, 15:35:21), Jacob King (eighth, 15:48.25), Mitchell Rietze (10th, 15:58.54), Lachlan May (11th, 16:01.25) and Zackery Cervi-Skinner (16th, 16:08.82) – to win the state title by 15 points over two-time defending champion Rocky Mountain.

"We wanted to get out fast at the start," May said.  

Said King: "This course is at a slant. Every time we went uphill, that was our chance to go." 

May and King, both seniors, said this has been a dream season. The Vikings won the Mountain West Classic last month in Missoula, Mont., the Battle for the 509 in Spokane and earlier this month became the first Idaho team to win Nike Hole in the Wall in Lakewood, Wash.  

"I feel so blessed to be on this team," King said. 

The Vikings placed third at state in 2022 with seven underclassmen. Head coach Cathy Compton said the progression from last year to this year is due to "growth, strength and character." Now Coeur d'Alene turns its attention to Nike Cross Northwest on Nov. 11 at Eagle Island State Park with qualification for Nike Cross Nationals on the line.  

"That's been the goal all along," Compton said.   

"We know we can do it," May said. "We know what we're capable of."

May also wanted to give a shoutout to Coeur d'Alene's YouTube channel, CDA Distance, where the Vikings have been documenting their season.

Meridian junior Nate Stadtlander won the 5A boys individual title in 15:12.82 to become the first Meridian boys cross country state champion since Dwain Stucker in 2012.

The Timberline girls had two medalists in addition to Ihmels: Sasha Livingston (eighth, 18:55) and Lily Simmonds (14th, 19:10.84). 

In 4A, the snow melted by the time the runners lined up, and eastern Idaho swept team and individual titles.  Idaho Falls senior Luke Athay, in his first season back since stress fracture surgery, won the 4A individual boys title in 15:38.02 and led four Tigers to medals en route to the 4A state title with 67 points. 

Athay, the 2021 5A state champion, returned to running in July. He missed his entire junior year of cross country and track and had surgery to repair a stress fracture almost exactly 10 months ago. His older sister, Jane, whom he credits for getting him and older brother Mitchell into running, and his parents were among the first to hug him.

"When I was on crutches, I said, 'I'm gonna come back and I'm gonna do this again,'" Athay said. "It stayed in my mind."

Athay said he was grateful to be back with his team after missing 16 months and for staying the course during his recovery. He said he plans to run at NXR and be ready for outdoor track. 

"I've felt stuck at times, but I fought through a lot," Athay said. "I'm so glad to be here."

Longtime Idaho Falls head coach Alan McMurtrey often said during the season that it has been an emotional journey for him and Athay, and Saturday was a big moment on his journey back.

"He was very patient with his progress," McMurtrey said.

Caleb Boyle (fifth, 16:26.66), Jaiden Liddle (sixth, 16:31.69) and Eli Byron (19th, 16:45.49) also medaled for the Tigers. 

Liddle, a senior who competed in swimming and cross country simultaneously for three years before focusing on cross country this fall, said this season has been rough for him but he genuinely felt good Saturday.  

"I actually felt pretty good," Liddle said. "This morning I was like, 'I'm gonna have a good day.'"

McMurtrey added that taking second to Rocky Mountain in 2021 and to Bishop Kelly last year lit a fire in his returning runners. The Tigers anticipated strong competition from Burley, which took second Saturday by five points, after seeing the Bobcats' performances at Bob Firman last month.

McMurtrey said a simple question, "Why not us?" fueled the Tigers for state, and the quotes on their team shirts, "Our roots run deep" capture the culture of a program that won five state titles from 2017 to 2020 (four boys, one girls) and added another blue trophy and banner Saturday. Several current Tigers like Athay and sophomore Tess Eddington had older siblings who were part of state championship teams. 

"They learned and they pass the torch," McMurtrey said.  

Skyline senior Nelah Roberts became the first Idaho girl to win four individual state cross country titles, running an all-time eastern Idaho best 17:18.06 to win the 4A girls race with the fastest girls time of the day. 

As she crossed the finish line, Roberts smiled and held four fingers aloft. The tears came soon after, and flowed freely when her family members hugged her over the barrier one by one. In addition to her parents, Roberts' state champion siblings each hugged her in turn and wiped their eyes: older sister Adria (Skyline 4A girls state champions, 2017), older brother Harrison (Skyline 4A boys state champions, 2016) and sister-in-law Karlie Callahan Roberts (2017 3A girls individual state champion for Shelley). 

Roberts won her first individual state title on the same course three years ago as a freshman. 

"So surreal," Roberts said. "It's made it all worth it." 

As for any nerves or pressure, Roberts said she spent the 10 days after the 4A District 6 championships preparing for state as she would any other race. She ended up winning by one minute, 42 seconds.

"I kind of like to live my life by the last minute," Roberts said with a laugh.

She and fellow senior Marina Renna (fourth, 19:03.13) earned medals to help Skyline claim the third place trophy with 111 points. Roberts competed at the Eastbay Championships in 2021 and NXN last year, and plans to compete at NXR in two weeks. She said she has not started to taper her mileage yet, and knows spots for NXN will be more competitive this year, especially after facing much of that competition earlier this month at Hole in the Wall.   

The Preston girls three-peated in 4A thanks to medals from Elly Jeppsen (sixth, 19:12.13), Maren Leffler (eighth, 19:23.99), Myah Atchley (ninth, 19:27.27), Ashley Scott (11th, 9:29.89), Oakley Reid, (13th, 19:36.85) and Bethany Moore (20th, 19:50.36). 

The 3A races had new team and individual champions this year. McCall-Donnelly senior George Speirs, who entered Saturday with the fastest 3A time in Idaho (15:38), won the 3A boys race in 15:57.43 to give McCall-Donnelly its first individual state champion.

South Fremont senior Sage Lyon won the 3A girls race in 19:09.66 to become her school's first individual state champion, male or female. 

She was equally happy for younger sister Violet, a freshman who placed 22nd in her first state meet.

"It's nice to hand this off to her," Lyon said.

South Fremont head coach Mike Rupp, who is in his second year, said Lyon is the 'best example' her younger teammates could have. She medaled at state all four years.

"She's an example of if you put in the time, you can get there," Rupp said. "I think we have a group of girls that can see what it takes. She's put in tons of work and since she was a freshman, we've talked about how much potential she has to be good."

South Fremont furthermore made history Saturday by winning the 3A boys title with 63 points, a program first. The Cougars got medals from A.J. Stalker (sixth, 16:48.23), Jackson Lemmon (12th, 17:01.53), Tyce Poulsen (14th, 17:04.26), Hyrum Rupp (16th, 17:08.67) and Beau Ashcraft (18th, 17:10.68). Stalker is the lone senior of those five.

Rupp said winning the Varsity Division II title at the Bob Fiman Invitational and beating District 6 rival Sugar-Salem, winners of seven of the last eight 3A boys state titles, was an eye-opener.

"If we can beat them, we can be the best," Rupp said.

South Fremont's state title made it 15 consecutive years that a District 6 school has won at least 3A state cross country state championship. Teton, also of District 6, was second place in the 3A boys race with 74 points, and Sugar-Salem boys were cheering for South Fremont during the trophy presentation.

"We've got a fun district," Rpp said. "We appreciate the coaches at Teton and Sugar. We genuinely want to beat each other but we genuinely support each other." 

The 3A girls team title came down to the same two eastern Idaho teams for the third consecutive year and to single digit margins for the third consecutive year. Thanks to medals from Hailey Raymond (seventh, 20:22.37), Mikelle Kesler (eighth, 20:22.86), Paetyn Platis (ninth, 20:34.52) and Rylie Edlefsen (19th, 21:03.04), Snake River edged Sugar-Salem 55-60 for the championship.

Eastern Idaho also claimed 2A team and individual titles. The girls race was as tight as anticipated, with Soda Springs adding to its dynasty by edging Ririe 38-41 to repeat as state champion. Soda Springs had five medalists -- Lizzie Beutler (third, 19:38.4), India Galloway (seventh, 20:11.02), Ellie Wood (eighth, 20:15.78, Rebekah Evans (10th, 20:34.10) and Jinettie Garbett (15th, 20:53.91) -- while Ririe had six medalists.

West Jefferson freshman Bella Spencer won the 2A girls title in 19:29.63 to win her school's first individual state title. Spencer went undefeated versus 2A competition this fall, has won six races and plans to run at NXR Northwest and Foot Locker West Regionals.  

"I'm pretty excited," she said.

North Fremont junior Corbin Johnston repeated as 2A boys individual champion in 15:52.74, winning by 43 seconds. Johnston, who has gone undefeated versus 2A competition, also plans to race at NXR and Foot Locker West.

"I wanted to take that first mile at about 4:45," Johnston said. "That's when I moved (ahead)."

Johnston and teammate Payton Linger (15th, 17:40.96) medaled to lead North Fremont to five top-30 finishes to win the state title with 79 points, the Huskies' second title in three years. 

Raft River claimed the 1A girls team and individual titles for another year, repeating as team champions with 52 points and getting a three-peat from individial champion Allie Black (19:30.07). Black's teammate Naomi Campbell also medaled with 20th place in 21:24.73 to give the Trojans the title by one point over Victory Charter. Each team had four girls place in the top 30.

Rockland won its first 1A boys state championship with 56 points, edging two-time defending champion Victory Charter by two points. The Bulldogs had five boys finish in the top 30 in the winning effort, including Ezra Hubbard (fourth, 16:34.37), Hayden Smith (fifth, 16:56.01) and Xavier Parrish (eighth, 17:24.90), while Victory Charter had four runners finish in the top 15 including individual champion Luke Stockett (15:41.18)

Team champions

5A: Coeur d'Alene boys 45, Timberline girls 71 - RESULTS

4A: Idaho Falls boys 67, Preston girls 47 - RESULTS

3A: South Fremont boys 63, Snake River girls 55 - RESULTS

2A: North Fremont boys 79, Soda Springs 38 - RESULTS

1A: Rockland boys 56, Raft River girls 52 - RESULTS