ORDER GAME PHOTOS

POCATELLO - Runners had 73 degree weather and clear skies rather than rain and wind this time for the annual Bob Conley Invitational on Thursday at the Bob Conley Invitational, and the setting certainly had a state meet feel to it.

Three Idaho runners and one Wyoming runner claimed the individual championships of Thursday's varsity races at the Portneuf Wellness Complex. Two individual titles went to District 4, as Raft River junior Allie Black repeated as girls varsity B champion in 19:07.7 and Twin Falls senior Stockton Stevens won the boys varsity A title in 15:40. Madison
Antonino, a sophomore from Jackson Hole, Wyo., won the girls varsity A race in 18:07.7 and the boys varsity B title went to District 6, with North Fremont sophomore Corbin Johnston winning in 16:00.1.

Idaho's defending 1A girls individual state champion, Black has won four races this season. Thursday's finish gave her a personal best time.

"Just put in all the work and it definitely pays off," Black said. "I couldn't do it without my teammates and my coaches."

Representing one of the smallest schools at Thursday's meet, Black's finish helped Raft River place third in the team standings with a score of 112. Ririe won with a score of 68, propelled by four top-15 finishes from Liza Boone, Lucy Boone, Jayci Baxter and Lauren Robson, while Malad was second with a score of 97.

Black said she enjoys the competition and atmosphere of larger meets.

"I really like it, getting to meet so many people," Black said. "They're all so nice. It's a great opportunity to be here."

Johnston, who like Black claimed a varsity B individual title at the Tiger-Grizz Invitational in Idaho Falls in September, came close to dipping below the 16-minute barrier as he closed in on the finish line. His official time was 16 flat, his second fastest of the season for a 5k course. Finishing in third place in 16:40.8 was Johnston's older brother Zack, a senior.

The sophomore has won five races in a row.

"I've just been putting in a lot of solid miles," Johnston said of his progress from last year to this year. 

Johnston's personal best came with an impressive win in the varsity Division II race at the annual Bob Firman Invitational on Sept. 24 in Boise, a 15:56.4 at a meet that returned to the calendar for the first time since 2019. He said he is aiming for another sub-16 time at the 2A state meet on Oct. 29 in Lewiston. A member of the defending 2A state champion team, he knows what it would take to get another state championship banner.

"Definitely have to get all the guys working together and peaking at the right time," he said. "Down in Lewiston, I want to try to get low 15:40s."

West Side claimed Thursday's boys varsity B title with a score of 136, edging fellow District 5 team Rockland by three points. 

Antonino made the trip over from Wyoming and came away with not only a win, but a personal best by 38 seconds. 

Jackson Hole frequently competes in Idaho meets, including four so far this fall, but Antonino said the drop in elevation from Jackson's 6,234 feet is not something she feels when she races in the Gem State.

"I never seen to notice it, honestly," Antonino said.

The sophomore said she is pleased with how her season is going so far. Thursday was the second sub-19 time of her career, and this new personal best is the second fastest time by a Wyoming girl this season.

"It's going pretty great," Antonino said. "I've gotten tons of huge personal bests this season."

Idaho's defending 4A state champion Preston continued to display its depth, winning the girls varsity A title by a 51-point margin. Preston had all seven runners--Maren Leffler, Elly Jeppsen, Myah Atchley, Bethany Moore, Angelie Scott, Ashley Scott and Tenley Kirkbride--finish in the top 25 and under 20:30 to accumulate a team score of 66 points.

Stevens not only had the fastest time of the day, but he had a 28-second victory margin. Thursday was the fourth consecutive meet in which he ran a sub-15:50 time this season.

He said he knew 'it might get lonely' Thursday upon taking the lead and extending it, but he trusted himself to endure and finish strong.

Idaho's state meet took place at Portneuf Wellness Complex his freshman and sophomore seasons, and he said the course has had a great impact on him. 

"This is the first place where I came to love cross country," Stevens said. 

Idaho's defending 4A boys individual state runner-up, Stevens is aiming to conclude his Twin Falls cross country career atop the medal stand later this month.

"I definitely want to be a state champion for 4A," Stevens said. "I've got some great competitors, especially Matt Thomas from Blackfoot, but that's good. I'd also really like a high placement for my team, too."

Idaho Falls, propelled by top-20 finishes from Ben Behrmann, Richard Stewart, Jaiden Liddle, Carter Bluth, Eli Byron and Ammon Atamanczyk, won the boys varsity A team with a score of 54 and a 47-point margin over rival Skyline.