XC girls and boys run smart race at state
EAGLE — Badger cross country kept up with the competition at the 3A meet.
“We were watching the 4A and 5A races on Friday on the way down and making notes,” said head coach Tyler Warner. “So we sort of knew going into it that times were going to be slower, but this is a matter of places and points, not necessarily times.”
Girls
Former champion Emma Hillam of Fruitland and McKenna Kozeluh of Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy led the girls race. Badgers Camille Ussher and Ceci Roemer led the way for Bonners Ferry, both of whom have been eyeing top 20 medals all this season.
Warner said that he instructed all runners to not take the first mile too fast and to not get caught up in the adrenaline rush at the start of the race. He said other runners would do this and that the Badgers should keep their pace and will pass competitors on the second loop.
“State is tricky because kids want to start out really fast or get caught up in the nerves, so we preached staying focused on running our own race and not going out too fast early,” Warner said. “Both girls did this very nicely.”
On the second loop Ussher and Roemer passed several girls who had gone out very quickly, said Warner. Although they ended up in 25th and 26th place, Warner said he was very pleased with their performances.
The rest of the Badger pack, Jaden Byars, Leah Moellmer, and Sydney Beckle also performed well. Beckle came in third for the Badgers, finishing her season with a PR. Leah and Jaden were also on pace for PR's early and still had good days despite not getting them.
Senior Liliana Brinkman finished her career as a Badger at state, and Warner said it was a worthy accomplishment for a kid who began running at BCMS XC with coach Paul Bonnell. Freshman Trina Johnson finished her first season at state with a PR to top it off.
The Badger girls squad finished 8th out of 11 teams. It was a first for Warner’s coaching career to beat Timberlake and Fruitland at State.
Girls
25th Senior Camille Ussher 21:19.2
26th Junior Ceci Roemer 21:27.8
35th Freshman Sydney Beckle 21:55.1
50th Junior Leah Moellmer 24:11.6
63rd Sophomore Peyton Duffield 24:30.7
75th Senior Liliana Brinkman 27:07.2
77th Freshman Trina Johnson 28:07.6
Boys
The boys race started out with a large pack. Badger Connor Alexander ran in the top 20, a field packed with Sugar Salem and Snake River runners. The coaching team had many conversations with Alexander about starting too fast.
Last year at Pocatello Alexander ran the first mile in 4:48, too fast said Warner.
Alexanders’s pace was more conservative this time. Warner said he played a smart, patient game, letting the guys in the lead pack fall back to him and some of the other top finishers from the IML.
“Connor [Alexander] ran a very analytical, tactful race,” Warner said. “At one point I remember telling him to relax, you could just see on his face he was a little uptight, but he passed a handful of guys before the end.”
Alexander finished 10th in state and is the first Bonners Ferry boys medalist since Hunter Smith in the 2019 season.
The pack of 2nd-5th place Bonners Ferry boys did not hold together as they typically do, yet they still did finish close in time. The Badger boys finish 10th out of 11 teams.
Warner said that finishing towards the bottom of the state tournament may seem disappointing, he reminded the boys that many 3A teams did not qualify for the race.
“To finish top 10 in Idaho 3A is still worthy of recognition in my books,” said Warner.
Boys
10th Senior Connor Alexander 17:11.1
63rd Senior Levi Bonnell 19:02.3
67th Sophomore Colin Fairchild 19:10.3
75th Junior Justin Strugar 20:09.8
76th Sophomore Wyatt Smith 20:10.6
