‘Relentless’ runner leads Rocky to state cross country title. He wasn’t only local champ

Rocky Mountain’s Landon Heemeyer shined throughout the fall in cross country meets. He stole the show again Saturday.

Heemeyer clocked a 5k time of 14 minutes, 38.79 seconds to claim the 5A individual state title and help the Grizzlies win their second straight team title at the Lewiston Orchards.

“The boys came into today with the challenge of seeing how low they could score as a team,” Rocky Mountain coach Jeff Howard said. “The focus was individual excellence toward a team goal. The seven boys that had the opportunity to race represented the other 64 boys on our team, and we wanted those boys to know how much each one of them matters.”

No team came close to the Grizzlies. Tyler Sainsbury finished second at 14:51.53, while Cody Lucas (15:26.79, seventh), Keith Uitdewilligen (15:27.06, eighth) and Hunter Hill (15:33.25, 12th) all factored into the team score.

Rocky Mountain finished with 30 points. Boise was the closest competitor, with 71 points.

“Our program has been building what we call a lighthouse,” Howard said. “Each member of our program is equally valued. A time or place does not change your worth in our program. The side walls of the lighthouse are grace and trust. The roof is the courage to be genuine.

“There will always be a place and time associated with racing, but our focus is on individual excellence each time we have the opportunity to compete.”

The “lighthouse mentality” has helped Heemeyer all season. He won the Bob Firman Invitational in record time and took fourth in last week’s district meet to help Rocky Mountain claim the district title.

“Landon has been integral this season in building our team culture,” Howard said. “Landon is humble and kind before and after races. But during a race, he is a relentless competitor that fully understands that his performances do not change who he is.”

SMITH RETURNS TO HELP BOISE WIN ANOTHER TITLE

Boise’s Sammy Smith was playing soccer on the other side of the world last week. She made the most of her return to this country, and cross country, on Saturday.

Defending individual state champ Allie Bruce led Boise with a 17:46.84 time and a second-place finish in the 5A girls race, and Smith, a junior, finished seventh with a time of 18:07.68, helping secure the Brave their fifth straight team title.

“We prepared both physically and mentally for (the state meet),” Boise coach Aaron Olswanger said. “Our kids do a great job of putting past races behind us, good or bad, and focus on the upcoming race. The state meet has higher stakes, obviously, and our kids know we train them for occasions like this.”

Lydia Nance (18:10.56, ninth) and Zoe Sims (18:13.16, 11th) also helped guide Boise to the first-place finish with 54 points, 29 points ahead of runner-up Rocky Mountain.

Post Falls’ Annastasia Peters was the individual champ at 16:56.07.

The timing could not have been better for Boise to get Smith back. She started the fall going back-and-forth between running cross country and scoring goals for the soccer team. She even helped Boise to a third-place finish at the Bob Firman Invitational on Sept. 24.

But a day after competing at Bob Firman, she left both Boise programs to join the U.S. women’s national team at the U-17 FIFA World Cup in India. How far the U.S. advanced would determine whether she could return in time for state.

She scored two goals in her national team debut against Morocco on Oct. 17. But the team lost four days later to Nigeria, eliminating the U.S. and bringing Sammy back to Idaho on Wednesday, Olswanger said.

Smith missed Boise’s girls soccer state title win last Saturday, as well as the preparation for the cross country state meet. But the 2020 individual champ wanted to compete one last time.

“There were a lot of emotions heading into this year’s state meet, and all 14 of our athletes handled it very well and came to compete,” Olswanger said. “We were so impressed with their focus, passion and grit.”

4A: BK BOYS TAKE TEAM TITLE

Bishop Kelly’s Austin Clough placed third in the 4A boys race, clocking in at 14:58.19 to help the Knights claim their first state title since 2008. The Knights finished with 53 points, edging Idaho Falls (63).

Isaac Edwards (15:35.16, eighth), Kevin Corrigan (15:40.50, ninth) and Charlie Goss (15:52.08, 14th) paced the Knights. Blackfoot’s Matthew Thomas took the individual title at 14:47.61.

3A: TWO LOCAL RUNNER-UPS

McCall-Donnelly’s Jack McManus finished second in the boys race at 15:50.41, and Weiser’s Kylee Quinton captured a silver medal in the girls race at 18:35.10 as the best Southwest Idaho finishers.

Sugar-Salem won the girls team trophy with 74 points, and Kimberly had an identical score for the boys team trophy.

2A: AMBROSE’S MOORE REPEATS

Ambrose senior Cameron Moore won her second straight 2A girls individual title at 18:33.04, finishing 9.39 seconds ahead of Firth’s Kynzie Nielson.

Melba’s Rozzlyn Carter had a fourth-place finish at 18:56.69. And North Star Charter’s Everett Metier was the top local boys finisher in 11th place at 16:39.65.

1A: VICTORY CHARTER THREE-PEAT

The Nampa charter school captures its third straight 1A boys team title behind the Stockett brothers.

Senior Ian Stockett repeated as the individual champ at 15:19.49. And younger brother Luke Stockett finished fourth at 15:40.52.

Four Vipers finished inside the top 15, adding up to 48 points. Rockland was second at 81 points.

Greenleaf’s Anna Dixon was the top Treasure Valley finisher in the girls race in fifth place (19:48.45).

5A State Meet

Saturday

At Lewiston Orchards

Girls team scores: 1, Boise 54. 2, Rocky Mountain 83. 3, Highland 138. 4, Mountain View 149. 5, Post Falls 151. 6, Meridian 164. 7, Eagle 172. 8, Timberline 173. 9, Thunder Ridge 178. 10, Capital 197. 11, Coeur d’Alene 206.

Girls top individuals

1, Annastasia Peters, Post Falls, 16:56.07.

2, Allie Bruce, Boise, 17:46.84.

3, Paisley Taylor, Meridian, 17:51.75.

4, Courtney Earl, Thunder Ridge, 17:56.30.

5, Olivia May, Coeur d’Alene, 17:59.16.

6, Rilyn Stevens, Mtn View, 18:01.22.

7, Samantha Smith, Boise, 18:07.68.

8, Faith Johnson, Owyhee, 18:07.88.

9, Lydia Nance, Boise, 18:10.56.

10, Brighton Heywood, Rocky Mtn, 18:11.29.

11, Zoe Sims, Boise, 18:13.16.

12, Meredith Sanford, Highland, 18:17.81.

13, Lily Sullivan, Capital, 18:20.51.

14, Gracie Buhrley, Rocky Mtn, 18:20.64.

15, Aubrey Kohler, Meridian, 18:23.20.

16, Kayelee Austin, Middleton, 18:23.40.

17, Sophie Cooper, Timberline, 18:24.01.

18, Brooklyn Hom, Rocky Mtn, 18:25.57.

19, Hannah Bailey, Highland, 18:26.00.

20, Hazel Kunkel, Lake City, 18:26.07.

Boys team scores: 1, Rocky Mountain 30. 2, Boise 71. 3, Coeur d’Alene 73. 4, Highland 146. 5, Centennial 147. 6, Mountain View 157. 7, Rigby 172. 8, Timberline 188. 9, Eagle 193. 10, Capital 262. 11, Lake City 326.

Boys top individuals

1, Landon Heemeyer, Rocky Mtn, 14:38.79.

2, Tyler Sainsbury, Rocky Mtn, 14:51.53.

3, Maximus Cervi-Skinner, Coeur d’Alene, 15:02.40.

4, Lachlan May, Coeur d’Alene, 15:15.91.

5, Kaden Helder, Boise, 15:22.00.

6, Bryson Blaser, Centennial, 15:24.38.

7, Cody Lucas, Rocky Mtn, 15:26.79.

8, Keith Uitdewilligen, Rocky Mtn, 15:27.06.

9, Andrew Ringert, Eagle, 15:27.94.

10, Noe Kemper, Boise, 15:30.26.

11, Zackery Cervi-Skinner, Coeur d’Alene, 15:32.94.

12, Hunter Hill, Rocky Mtn, 15:33.25.

13, Jacob King, Coeur d’Alene, 15:40.24.

14, Payton Bird, Rigby, 15:41.18.

15, Ammon Barton, Highland, 15:41.99.

16, Nate Stadtlander, Meridian, 15:44.64.

17, Benjamin Jensen, Mtn View, 15:45.44.

18, Andrew Dodds, Boise, 15:53.04.

19, Treycen Hall, Rigby, 15:53.65.

20, Shiva Rajbhandari, Boise, 15:53.96.

4A State Meet

Saturday

At Lewiston Orchards

Girls team scores: 1, Preston 61. 2, Skyline 97. 3, Idaho Falls 118. 4, Pocatello 120. 5, Twin Falls 141. 6, Sandpoint 186. 7, Skyview 207. 8, Burley 220. 9, Bishop Kelly 221. 10, Bonneville 238. 11, Jerome 245. 12, Mountain Home 257. 13, Moscow 267. 14, Vallivue 411. 15, Columbia 473.

Girls top individuals

1, Nelah Roberts, Skyline, 17:31.72.

2, Bailey Bird, Pocatello, 17:44.97.

3, Marina Renna, Skyline, 18:24.11.

4, Elanor Eddington, Idaho Falls, 18:26.80.

5, Saylor Erickson, Twin Falls, 18:31.28.

6, Hailey Renzello, Pocatello, 18:35.14.

7, Isabella Beilke, Jerome, 18:39.08.

8, Kennedy Kunz, Bonneville, 18:39.40.

9, Bethany Moore, Preston, 18:43.08.

10, Angelie Scott, Preston, 18:48.57.

11, Myah Atchley, Preston, 18:49.56.

12, Maren Leffler, Preston, 18:49.72.

13, Olivia Kendell, Burley, 18:49.78.

14, Julia Gilbert, Mtn Home, 18:50.88.

15, Alivia Johnson, Bonneville, 18:51.93.

16, Maren Davidson, Sandpoint, 18:53.49.

17, Zoey Stauffer, Bishop Kelly, 18:53.67.

18, Brittany Garling, Twin Falls, 18:54.16.

19, Elly Jeppsen, Preston, 18:54.80.

20, Elizabeth Driscoll, Jerome, 18:55.61.

Boys team scores: 1, Bishop Kelly 53. 2, Idaho Falls 63. 3, Skyline 118. 4, Pocatello 130. 5, Twin Falls 146. 6, Burley 147. 7, Blackfoot 176. 8, Preston 218. 9, Vallivue 236. 10, Sandpoint 240. 11, Skyview 294. 12, Jerome 325. 13, Moscow 361. 14, Canyon Ridge 369.

Boys top individuals

1, Matthew Thomas, Blackfoot, 14:47.61.

2, Stockton Stevens, Twin Falls, 14:54.07.

3, Austin Clough, Bishop Kelly, 14:58.19.

4, Samuel Fish, Vallivue, 15:08.76.

5, Ben Behrmann, Idaho Falls, 15:29.73.

6, Aaron Williamson, Vallivue, 15:33.76.

7, Jaiden Liddle, Idaho Falls, 15:34.87.

8, Isaac Edwards, Bishop Kelly, 15:35.16.

9, Kevin Corrigan, Bishop Kelly, 15:40.50.

10, Aaron Bradshaw, Burley, 15:46.21.

11, Richard Stewart, Idaho Falls, 15:46.88.

12, Russell Frampton, Twin Falls, 15:49.88.

13, Aiden Hardy, Skyline, 15:51.59.

14, Charlie Goss, Bishop Kelly, 15:52.08.

15, Russell Peck, Pocatello, 15:52.86.

16, Brody Burch, Pocatello, 15:53.57.

17, Samuel Visser, Preston, 15:53.83.

18, Caleb Boyle, Idaho Falls, 15:53.90.

19, Jack Tobin, Bishop Kelly, 15:54.40.

20, Andrew Nielsen, Pocatello, 16:00.55.

3A State Meet

Saturday

At Lewiston Orchards

Girls team scores: 1, Sugar-Salem 74. 2, Snake River 76. 3, Teton 81. 4, Coeur d’Alene Charter 95. 5, Weiser 111. 6, Filer 128. 7, McCall-Donnelly 150. 8, Kimberly 184. 9, Bonners Ferry 233.

Girls top individuals

1, McKenna Kozeluh, CdA Charter, 17:43.80.

2, Kylee Quinton, Weiser, 18:35.10.

3, Helen Oyler, CdA Charter, 19:05.67.

4, Claire Mathews, Weiser, 19:10.47.

5, Mckenzie Winegar, South Fremont, 19:22.11.

6, Hailey Raymond, Snake River, 19:23.40.

7, Hailey Dalling, Sugar-Salem, 19:28.51.

8, Raelin Gilroy, Teton, 19:33.14.

9, Jenna Letham, Teton, 19:37.76.

10, Sage Lyon, South Fremont, 19:38.32.

11, Kate Dickson, Sugar-Salem, 19:40.33.

12, Taylor Nalder, McCall-Donnelly, 19:40.67.

13, Megan Atkinson, Parma, 19:43.99.

14, Lucy Tanner, Teton, 19:46.21.

15, Maya Kelsey, Filer, 19:48.92.

16, Aliza Haroldsen, Snake River, 19:57.20.

17, Kendall Rynearson, Weiser, 20:00.78.

18, Annabelle Carr, CdA Charter, 20:07.68.

19, Alli Stastny, Kimberly, 20:11.39.

20, Abigail Anderson, Sugar-Salem, 20:11.94.

Boys team scores: 1, Kimberly 74. 2, Sugar-Salem 91. 3, Fruitland 112. 4, Timberlake 131. 5, South Fremont 131. 6, Snake River 140. 7, Gooding 153. 8, McCall-Donnelly 161. 9, Parma 170. 10, Marsh Valley 267. 11, Coeur d’Alene Charter 288.

Boys top individuals

1, Jacob Barnhart, Timberlake, 15:47.56.

2, Jack McManus, McCall-Donnelly, 15:50.41.

3, Ben Browning, Kimberly, 15:51.51.

4, Grayden Devries, Kimberly, 15:55.11.

5, Zane Lindquist, Teton, 15:57.41.

6, Dylan Ball, Sugar-Salem, 16:13.40.

7, George Spiers, McCall-Donnelly, 16:16.72.

8, Mason Smith, Sugar-Salem, 16:26.47.

9, Porter Holt, Sugar-Salem, 16:28.94.

10, Luke Mclaughlin, Gooding, 16:30.57.

11, Connor Beck, South Fremont, 16:32.76.

12, Jacob Hammond, Snake River, 16:33.86.

13, Colby Ridley, Buhl, 16:43.50.

14, Bronson Beus, Parma, 16:47.27.

15, Joe Hopkins, Kimberly, 16:47.47.

16, Easton Utz, Gooding, 16:48.93.

17, Leo High, Snake River, 16:49.66.

18, Ethan Starr, Fruitland, 16:54.17.

19, Israel Norris, Fruitland, 16:56.39.

20, Andrew Thompson, American Falls, 16:57.65.

2A State Meet

Saturday

At Lewiston Orchards

Girls team scores: 1, Soda Springs 51. 2, Ririe 69. 3, Malad 80. 4, Declo 88. 5, Salmon 123. 6, Melba 140. 7, North Fremont 159. 8, Cole Valley Christian 191. 9, Nampa Christian 233.

Girls top individuals

1, Cameron Moore, Ambrose, 18:33.04.

2, Kynzie Nielson, Firth, 18:42.43.

3, Jessica Duran, Wendell, 18:52.93.

4, Rozzlyn Cazier, Melba, 18:56.69.

5, Aubree Williams, Declo, 19:18.80.

6, Liza Boone, Ririe, 19:19.74.

7, Lizzie Beutler, Soda Springs, 19:20.13.

8, Lucy Boone, Ririe, 19:26.87.

9, Aubrie Barzee, West Side, 19:30.64.

10, Keziah Westover, West Side, 19:33.01.

11, Lacey Medina, Kellogg, 19:36.50.

12, Brylin Bills, Salmon, 19:39.15.

13, Ellie Wood, Soda Springs, 19:44.72.

14, Cortlyn Coleman, Malad, 19:44.73.

15, Jinettie Garbett, Soda Springs, 19:45.65.

16, Cally Coleman, Malad, 19:49.51.

17, Brooke Isaacson, Malad, 19:51.22.

18, Hannah Evans, Soda Springs, 19:52.18.

19, Brooklyn Dayley, Melba, 19:52.37.

20, Jayci Baxter, Ririe, 19:52.76.

Boys team scores: 1, West Side 66. 2, North Fremont 80. 3, Soda Springs 81. 4, Firth 136. 5, Cole Valley Christian 171. 6, Melba 180. 7, Ririe 190. 8, Priest River 200. 9, Ambrose 209. 10, Kellogg 216. 11, North Star Charter 224. 12, Wendell 296.

Boys top individuals

1, Corbin Johnston, North Fremont, 15:21.30.

2, Kayden Gentry, Soda Springs, 15:37.25.

3, Zack Johnston, North Fremont, 15:39.52.

4, Bradyn Noreen, West Side, 15:59.10.

5, Kohlbin Bragg, Salmon, 16:12.73.

6, Grant Clawson, West Side, 16:14.70.

7, Makai Peak, Kellogg, 16:27.68.

8, Strider Perry, Firth, 16:30.25.

9, Levi Robbins, Firth, 16:32.26.

10, Ethan Willis, West Side, 16:38.90.

11, Everett Metier, North Star, 16:39.65.

12, Ravio Manzer, Melba, 16:51.61.

13, Tyler Saunders, Bear Lake, 17:00.87.

14, Brycen Talbot, Malad, 17:02.28.

15, Colm McLaimtaig, Priest River, 17:04.78.

16, Dylan Nightengale, Firth, 17:06.39.

17, Brayden Lamanna, Priest River, 17:07.78.

18, Jack Cazier, Melba, 17:14.87.

19, Eric Anderson, North Fremont, 17:15.79.

20, AJ Rose, Grangeville, 17:16.88.

1A State Meet

Saturday

At Lewiston Orchards

Girls team scores: 1, Raft River 32. 2, Logos 63. 3, Grace 90. 4, Tri-Valley 96. 5, Victory Charter 108. 6, Butte County 130. 7, Valley 165. 8, Potlatch 210.

Girls top individuals

1, Allie Black, Raft River, 18:34.30.

2, Sara Casebolt, Logos, 18:55.51.

3, Mari Calene, Logos, 19:09.72.

4, Taylor Redick, Challis, 19:25.61.

5, Anna Dixon, Greenleaf, 19:48.45.

6, Alayna Babcock, Butte County, 19:55.96.

7, Haven Campbell, Raft River, 20:02.83.

8, Emma Barton, Tri-Valley, 20:03.79.

9, Casey Collom, Liberty Charter, 20:05.44.

10, Goya Lemus, Rimrock, 20:12.17.

11, Azelynn Jones, Leadore, 20:15.24.

12, Audrey Gilbert, Raft River, 20:23.15.

13, Adelyn Barton, Tri-Valley, 20:26.97.

14, Stacey Neal, Rockland, 20:29.83.

15, Libby Boden, Raft River, 20:33.51.

16, Naomi Campbell, Raft River, 20:39.39.

17, Madison Edwards, Grace, 20:46.75.

18, Jacie Christensen, Grace, 20:55.51.

19, Lilly Gilbert, Grace, 20:57.94.

20, Elly Weeks, Butte County, 21:01.25.

Boys team scores: 1, Victory Charter 48. 2, Rockland 81. 3, Grace 94. 4, Valley 122. 5, Liberty Charter 145. 6, Logos 156. 7, Richfield 177. 8, Raft River 216. 9, Butte County 219. 10, Tri-Valley 235. 11, Potlatch 266. 12, Prairie 334.

Boys top individuals

1, Ian Stockett, Victory Charter, 15:19.49.

2, Cole Wilkerson, Grace, 15:38.34.

3, Kyle Christensen, Valley, 15:39.12.

4, Luke Stockett, Victory Charter, 15:40.52.

5, Ezra Hubbard, Rockland, 16:18.55.

6, Hayden Smith, Rockland, 16:20.40.

7, Wyatt Stiff, Tri-Valley, 16:22.62.

8, Kawika Schlenker, Liberty Charter, 16:26.88.

9, Loyd Boren, Rimrock, 16:42.29.

10, Zach Atwood, Logos, 16:42.60.

11, Jamen Fuchs, Richfield, 16:45.91.

12, Benton Bernard, Victory Charter, 16:47.32.

13, Tex Godfrey, Valley, 16:48.75.

14, Kade Johnson, Grace, 16:49.59.

15, Clay Kent, Richfield, 16:56.46.

16, Brody Hunt, Victory Charter, 17:00.88.

17, Jaten Hymas, Butte County, 17:01.80.

18, Asher Pirvu, Victory Charter, 17:07.27.

19, Raymond Lilly, Leadore, 17:08.73.

20, Connor-Douglas Robbins, Victory Charter, 17:17.16.