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ORDER GAME PHOTOS
Welcome to IdahoSports.com's new weekly cross country notebook, Breaking the Tape.
Earlier this year during the spring, I began writing a weekly notebook for the duration of track season called The Bell Lap. I don't exaggerate at all when I say that I had a blast writing it each week, sharing what was happening around the state and what was upcoming. I also thoroughly enjoyed hearing from coaches and athletes via email and in person at meets I was able to cover, and I greatly appreciated the insight and feedback they gave me for The Bell Lap. Last but not least, I am incredibly grateful to the IdahoSports.com crew, who supported my idea to start writing the Bell Lap and carry on with Breaking the Tape in the same manner for cross country season. Their support and willingness made these ideas become reality.
As was true for The Bell Lap during track season, this notebook will publish every Tuesday during cross country season. It will, however, take a brief hiatus on Sept. 24 and Oct. 1, when I will be on vacation. Breaking the Tape will return Oct. 8.
As I wrote in March upon starting The Bell Lap, I am humbled to continue to witness and write about the history being made in both high school cross country and track in Idaho. This fall is my 12th season covering cross country in Idaho, a reality that is equally humbling and stunning to me. As a former high school cross country runner myself and the daughter of a former high school cross country and track coach, these two sports will always be near and dear to me. Seeing how much both sports continue to grow around the nation and in Idaho will never fail to astound me. This past track season indeed confirmed that this is an exciting time for the sport in the Gem State, evident by the several all-time records broken by the end of the spring. Records continue to be broken and big-time opportunities continue to come about for Idaho's cross country runners as well, as we have seen over the last decade and especially in recent seasons. I intend to keep sharing these big moments as they happen. I also look forward to continue strengthening the communication with coaches and athletes I already know while becoming acquainted with coaches and athletes I have not yet had the opportunity to meet. I genuinely look forward to bringing you this notebook each week.
Just like for The Bell Lap in the spring, I appreciate input and feedback for Breaking the Tape this fall. Feel free to reach out to me on Twitter/X at @mwhereford or @IdahoSports.com.
Strong Start To The Season
Rocky Mountain, which claimed second place in 5A boys and third place in 5A girls at last season's state championships, is starting off its inaugural 6A season strong.
The Grizzlies currently own five of the top 12 fastest boys times in Idaho so far this season for any classification. Rocky Mountain won the Jerome Open Invite on Aug. 29 with a perfect score of 15, claiming the first five finishers of the meet. Senior Cody Lucas led the way with a winning time of 15:28.99, which is the fastest boys time in Idaho early in the season. Teammates Hyrum Tuft (15:40.09), Parker Goggins (15:48.95), Jacob Thomas (15:59.88) and Thomas Kurtz (16:18.47) followed him across the finish line in order. The Rocky Mountain girls also won in Jerome with a score of 20, placing five in the top six and seven in the top 12: Hallie Heemeyer (second, 18:54.14), Chloe Pollock (third, 19:22.05), Brooke Thompson (fourth, 19:33.30), Brooklyn Horn (fifth, 19:34.67) and Emme Hamm (sixth, 19:38.37). Twin Falls sophomore Raelee Richardson, individual runner-up at last year's 4A state meet, won the varsity girls race in 18:33.52.
In eastern Idaho on the same day, Highland swept team titles at the annual Terry Jones Invitational in Malad. The Rams won by 15 points over three-time 4A state champion Preston, placing four girls in the top 12, while the boys won by 68 points over Logan (Utah) thanks to placing three boys in the top four and six in the top 20. Idaho Falls junior Jaycee Jensen won the varsity girls race in 19:53 while Highland junior Cody Christensen won the varsity boys race in 16:30.
Meridian swept individual titles at the Jimmy Driscoll Invite on Aug. 24 at Bishop Kelly High in Boise. Senior Nate Stadtlander, last season's 5A individual boys state champion, won the varsity boys race in while his teammate and fellow senior Paisley Taylor won the varsity girls race in 18:25.09. Taylor's time is currently the fastest girls time so far this season in Idaho. Timberline swept the team titles, winning the girls race with a score of and the boys with a score of 63. Both victories for the Wolves were by single-digit margins. The girls, who claimed the 5A state championship last season, won the Jimmy Driscoll varsity team title by one point over Capital while the Wolves boys won by seven points over Eagle.
On The Horizon
The Caldwell Twilight is scheduled for Thursday at Caldwell High School. As of Sunday, 45 teams representing Oregon and Idaho are registered. The varsity races will be the last ones of the evening, with the varsity girls starting at 7:30 p.m. MST and the varsity boys at 8 p.m. MST.
Also on Thursday is the Valley Invite in Hazelton, where 45 teams representing Idaho and Nevada are registered as of Sunday. The tentative start times are 4:45 p.m. for varsity girls and 5:30 p.m. for varsity boys.
This weekend is one of the largest early season meets in Idaho, the annual Cardinal Classic Invitational on Saturday at Kelly Park in Soda Springs. A total of 63 teams representing Idaho, Wyoming and Utah are registered as of Sunday.
The varsity races begin at noon MST with the girls, followed by the boys at 12:40 p.m.
On the same day in North Idaho, the Timberlake Farragut Invitational takes place at Farragut State Park in Athol. As of Sunday, 43 teams representing Idaho, Montana, and Washington are registered. The varsity girls start at 10:20 a.m. PST and the varsity boys will start at 10:50 a.m.
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