Bozeman MT, Summit OR go 1-2 in both genders

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Bozeman MT became the first school to sweep the team titles at NXR Northwest and Summit of Bend, Ore. swept up the second auto berths for Nike Cross Nationals on Saturday at Eagle Island State Park in Idaho.

Bozeman's boys and girls came in as the highest ranked teams in the region and the Hawks delivered.

"I couldn't be more proud," Bozeman's first-year coach, Casey Jermyn said. "In previous years I think (Bozeman) was a bit of an underdog and sometimes that's easier than being the team that everyone is gunning for."

The girls, featuring a talented trio of Camila Noe, Piper Meuwissen and Kenneni Wiegand, scored 103 points. Summit scored 142 to edge out 2015 NXN qualifier Sunset OR by seven points. 

"I think we're all super excited," said Summit senior Olivia Brooks, who qualified for NXN as an individual in 2015. "It hasn't set in yet. I'm amazed that we could pull that off. It's surreal. We had the goal of qualifying (for nationals) going in and we knew we had a chance. Hearing our named called, I was blown away."

With Chase Equall challenging for the win and finishing second up front, Bozeman's boys got a solid effort throughout the line up and scored 76 points. 

Summit, particularly strong at 3 and 4, scored 98 points and turned the tables on Crater OR, which beat the Storm in the Oregon 5A meet a week ago. The Storm boys will advanced to NXN for the third straight year.

"We came into it knowing we were definitely the underdog," Summit senior Scott Kinkade said. "All things considered, state went pretty well, but we were excited about regionals. As seniors, we knew this was potentially our last race together as a team and we wanted to make it mean something."

North Central WA was third for the second straight year -- and behind the same two teams -- with 148 points. 

Annie Hill of Glacier MT, who has had an on-again, off-again season, turned it back on for the Nike regional and won for the second straight year in 17:22.2. Idaho 5A champion Lexy Halladay of Mountain View was second in 17:26. Oregon 6A champion Ember Stratton from Sunset, a sophomore, was third in 17:29.8. Anna Gibson of Jackson, the Wyoming 4A champion and Bob Firman Invitational winner, was fourth in 17:34.9. Montana AA champion Tiahna Vladic of Billings Senior ran 17:40.8 for fifth to secure the final individual qualifying spot.

Washington Class 3A boys champion James Mwaura, a junior from Lincoln of Tacoma, was sensational in the boys race and won in 15:13.2 and held off Equall (15:18.7). Andy Monroe of Crater was third (15:31.7) and earned his second straight trip to NXN. McMinnville OR sophomore Zane Fodge was a surprising fourth, one spot ahead of Washington 4A champion Yacine Guermali from Camas.

Bozeman's No. 2, Duncan Hamilton, was sixth. 

That means seventh place finisher Nate Pendleton from Eastlake WA (seventh in the Washington 4A meet) is eligible for the final individual spot.