Idaho cross country preview: These are the top runners to watch in the Boise area
The Idaho high school cross country season kicked off last week with a few warmup meets, giving fans around the Treasure Valley an early look at this year’s talent.
Gone is Borah standout Nathan Green, who won three straight 5A individual titles. But the Treasure Valley returns plenty of prospects, including a loaded Boise girls team that has quickly made a name for itself on the regional and national stage.
Here are the top runners entering this season, according to coaches around the Treasure Valley.
TOP GIRLS TO WATCH
Sammy Smith, Boise
One of the top soccer prospects in the nation in her age group, Smith has quite the side hustle on the trail and track. As a freshman last year, she won the 5A state cross country individual title and won four gold medals at the state track meet, earning her the all-class Gatorade athlete of the year award in both sports.
She’s already back atop the podium this fall, winning the season-opening Jimmy Driscoll Invite at Bishop Kelly in 17 minutes, 57.06 seconds.
Allie Bruce, Boise
Teammates on their school and club soccer teams, Bruce and Smith push each other as runners too. She finished third at state as a freshman, and she took second in the 1,600 and 3,200 at the 5A state track meet.
She’s already breathing down Sammy Smith’s neck again this fall, finishing just 1.59 seconds behind her at Jimmy Driscoll.
Logan Smith, Boise
Sammy’s older sister, Logan Smith will split her efforts between two sports one last time before suiting up for the Stanford women’s soccer program next year. She’ll jockey with Bruce and her sister for the top spot week after week as part of a loaded Boise lineup seeking its fourth straight state title.
Rilyn Stevens, Mountain View
She made a splash as a freshman last fall, winning her first four races before finishing fourth at the 5A district meet and eighth at state. She would have drawn more headlines if not for Boise’s dominance. But a strong summer has her poised to turn heads, Mountain View coach Tracy Harris said.
Malia Lowe, Kuna
Utah State has extended an offer to the senior. She finished 25th at the 5A state meet last fall. But she made huge strides over the winter to finish fifth in the 1,600 and 3,200 and state track. Those improvements continued during the summer, Kuna coach Chase Cunningham said.
Emma Hillam, Fruitland
A state champion as a freshman, the senior struggled during last year’s abbreviated season and did not qualify for state. But she made up for lost time and proved she’s still one of the state’s top runners during the track season, winning 3A titles in the 1,600 and 3,200, and adding a second-place finish in the 800.
TOP BOYS TO WATCH
Grady Mylander, Nampa Christian
The senior dominated at last year’s state track meet, winning three individual titles and setting new 2A records in the 1,600 (4:19.08) and 3,200 (9:20.13).
He’s yet to win a state title in cross country. But he proved he belongs among the best in the Treasure Valley by running away with a first-place finish at Jimmy Driscoll last weekend at 16:30.07, more than 11 seconds ahead of the pack.
Zac Pollock, Rocky Mountain
He helped lead the Grizzlies to a 5A team title at district and a state runner-up finish a year ago. That includes a 12th-place finish at state.
The senior stands as the top returner from that team, one with a personal best time of 16:15 and one who will be key if the Grizzlies are to contend again.
Trent Wigod, Rocky Mountain
Pollock will have plenty of competition on his own team though. Wigod’s personal best time is just four seconds behind Pollock’s. And he was the top Rocky Mountain finisher at Jimmy Driscoll, finishing third to lead the Grizzlies to the team title.
Noe Kemper, Boise
He finished 16th at state as a freshman last year, one of only two freshmen in the top 20. But he’s made leaps and bounds since then, qualifying for state in both the 1,600 and 3,200. He showcased that new speed by taking second at Jimmy Driscoll.
Sam Fish, Vallivue
The favorite for the 4A district title after finishing second by .02 seconds last year, Fish also figures to make some noise at the state level. He finished fourth a year ago. And all three of the runners ahead of him graduated.
Ian Stockett, Victory Charter
He finished third at the 1A state meet last fall, then became a two-time state track champ in the spring with victories in the 1,600 (4:27.67) and 3,200 (9:36.07). The junior will contend for a cross country title this fall. But he’ll have to hold off his younger brother, sophomore Luke Stockett, first.
KEY DATES
The top meets on the schedule this fall.
Sept. 2: Caldwell Twilight, Brothers Park (Caldwell)
Sept. 25: Bob Firman Invite, Eagle Island State Park
Sept. 30: Gary Ward Invite, Lakeview Park (Nampa)
Oct. 14: Boise City Championship, Ann Morrison Park (Boise)
Oct. 21: 4A District Three Championship, Eagle Island State Park
Oct. 22: 5A District Three Championship, Eagle Island State Park
Oct. 30: 5A to 1A state meets, Eagle Island State Park
TEAM PREVIEWS
The top athletes to watch from each team who responded to the Idaho Statesman’s preseason survey.
Boise: Noe Kemper, so.; Sammy Smith, so.; Allie Bruce, so.; Logan Smith, sr.
Borah: Alexis Morgan, sr.; Julie Jirik, sr.; Jaxson Shaw, so.; Abby Rowedder, sr.
Capital: Tiffany Thomas, sr.; Isaac Antonnen, so.
Kuna: Malia Lowe, sr.; Tristan Wardle, sr.
Meridian: Kyle Wells, sr.; Nate Stadtlander, fr.; Aubrey Kohler, jr.
Mountain View: Rilyn Stevens, so.; Brooklyn Lowry, sr.
Owyhee: Quincy Neilson, jr.; Brayden Bowen, jr.; Hannah Berdan, so.
Rocky Mountain: Zac Pollock, sr.; Brighton Heywood, so.; Trent Wigod, sr.
Skyview: Clay Shumaker, sr.; Abigail Krzemien, so.; Kallen Mutchie, fr.
Timberline: Sean Janecko, sr.; Thomas Ogden, sr.; Mckay Powell, sr.
Bishop Kelly: Austin Clough, jr.; Kevin Corrigan, jr.; Tyler Mesaros, sr.
Columbia: Trenton Johnson, sr.
Nampa: Enrique Soto, jr.; Micah Kessinger, jr.; Haley Hasl, so.
Fruitland: Atticus Andersen, sr.; Emma Hillam, sr.; Abraham Marquez, so.
Parma: Angela Carpenter, so.; Hailey Gentry, fr.
Weiser: Kylee Quinton, jr.; Kendall Rynearson, so.; Colyer Chandler, sr.
Marsing: Dylan Harris, sr.; Sal Mattivi, so.; Josue Espejel, jr.
Melba: Rozzlyn Cazier, jr.
Nampa Chrisitan: Grady Mylander, sr.; Josh Lady, sr.
Council: Levi Armichardy, jr.; Taycee Nunn, sr.
Victory Charter: Ian Stockett, jr.; Luke Stockett, so.; Connor D. Robbins, jr.
Tri-Valley: Adam Miller, sr.; Emma Barton, fr.
