IDAHO FALLS – It was a good day for Rams, Grizzlies, Tigers and even a Bird at Wednesday’s district cross country championships. Highland claimed the boys and girls 6A District 4-5-6 team titles in impressive fashion, scoring 31 and 36 points, respectively. Skyline won the boys 5A District 6 title, while Idaho Falls captured the girls trophy, holding off Skyline by four points.
Rigby’s Payton Bird was as dominant as ever, winning his third straight district title in a personal-best time of 15:48.94. Teammate Jonas Porter was right behind in 15:51.
29, but it was a group of Highland runners following in a pack that earned the Rams the team title as five runners finished in the top 10, led by Cody Christensen’s third-place finish. In the 6A girls race, Madison’s Brynlee Gwilliam had the top time entering the meet, but finished 15th and was on the ground near the finish line being attended to after the race. Teammate Millie Drake won the race in 18:59.
73. The junior set a personal best by nearly 20 seconds to win her first race of the year, holding off Thunder Ridge’s Klarisa Earl by nine seconds. “When we hit the 400-meter mark I knew I had to pick it up or (Earl) would pass me,” Drake said of her finish.
In 6A, the top three teams and top 12 individuals qualified for next week’s state meet at Eagle Island State Park in Eagle. In 5A, the top three teams and top 14 runners advance. The 5A boys race came down to a sprint at the end between Skyline’s Alexander R.