EAGLE - A regional cross country showcase under sunny skies at picturesque Eagle Island State Park turned into a gritty duel for Idaho bragging rights Saturday in the elite girls division at the Bob Firman Invitational.

Eagle High senior and reigning 5A state champion Liz Brandon used a late surge to win in 18 minutes, 38.2 seconds, while Bishop Kelly sophomore and reigning 4A state champion Emily Nist (18:43.21) held off a late charge from Orem, Utah's Summer Harper (18:43.58) to place second.

Brandon and Nist, who placed third and sixth a year ago, also won 1,600- and 3,200-meter championships at their respective track and field state meets in May.

"We knew Emily would be there, but with so many teams from so many states here, there were some question marks," Eagle coach Greg Harm said. "At two miles, I was wondering whose race this was going to be. It was a nice battle."

Nist wasn't surprised Brandon emerged with the hard-fought victory.

"I wanted to stick with Liz, but she is so tough," Nist said. "She'll make you work if you want to run with her."

Brandon and Nist broke away from the main pack early in the 5-kilometer race, but the BK youngster couldn't keep pace when the Eagle veteran made a savvy move on the second and final climb up a small, steep hill with a half mile remaining.

"Once I hit the hill, I was like, 'Hey, if I don't hit this like I want to, she's going to pass me at the bottom.' So I surged up it and surged down it and it was in the bag from then on," Brandon said. "É We have been running together since middle school, so I know how she runs and she knows how I run."

The two spearheaded an assault by Idaho teams, who placed 11 runners - seven from the Treasure Valley - in the top 25 of a race that featured some of the top runners from seven Western states.

Mountain View (Utah) swept the team titles in the elite division with 65 points on the girls side and 75 points in the boys race.

Davis (Utah) and Bishop Kelly placed second and third on the girls side with 107 and 113 points. BK has won six of the last eight 4A state championships.

On the boys side, reigning Nike Cross Nationals champion North Central (Spokane) placed second with 100 points and Timpanogos (Utah) was third with 114. Twin Falls led Idaho's boys in sixth place with 199 and Boise was ninth with 208.

Boise senior and two-time defending 5A cross country state champion Eric Fitzpatrick, who was fighting a cold, placed fourth to lead local runners in 16:00.3. He considered skipping the race Friday night, but had a change of heart Saturday morning.

"I just felt like I could push through what was going on, no excuses," Fitzpatrick said. "I wanted to have a good, fast race and I was willing to push myself. I had a lot left in my legs, but my lungs weren't there."

It was Fitzpatrick's top finish at the Bob Firman Invitational in four tries. He placed seventh last year in 16:15.75.

Gig Harbor (Wash.) senior Conner Peloquin won the boys title in 15:39.8 and Highland (Pocatello) sophomore Dallin Farnsworth placed second in 15:42.7.

Jesse Zentz: 377-6430