Next up is state as Highland, Skyline, Idaho Falls all celebrate district titles

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 Renna and Bonneville’s Giryan Jones, with Renna winning 15:46.39 to 15:46.88.

Skyline scored 27 points to outdistance Idaho Falls with 56 points.

“You just shut everything out, you saw the finish line in sight and it’s kind of will power at that point,” Renna said. “I do whatever I can to run the best race I can.”

Two of the area’s top girl runners squared off in the 5A race with Idaho Falls’ Jaycee Jensen winning the district title in 19:03.56, and Blackfoot freshman Sailor Tomazin clocking 19:25.03 to take second.

The race for the team title between the Grizzlies and Tigers was close. Idaho Falls’ Rachel Hales was third and Tess Eddington was sixth. Skyline’s Ellen Harrison was fifth and teammate Analee Ricks was seventh, with Raygen Chambers placing night.

Idaho Falls had five runners in the top 20, while Skyline had five runners place in the top 18.

The difference came at the top of the race with Jensen and Hales finishing 1-3.

Highland and Thunder Ridge will send both boys and girls teams to the 6A state meet, while Skyline and Idaho Falls send both their runners to the 5A competition.

6A
Boys
1. Highland 31 2. Rigby 42 3. Thunder Ridge 93 4. Canyon Ridge 99 5. Madison 114.
Girls
1. Highland 36 2. Thunder Ridge 53 3. Madison 81 4. Rigby 95 5. Canyon Ridge 110.

5A
Boys
1. Skyline 27 2. Idaho Falls 56 3. Bonneville 79 4. Blackfoot 108 5. Shelley 121 6. Hillcrest 156.
Girls
1. Idaho Falls 46 2. Skyline 50 3. Shelley 66 4. Hillcrest 112 5. Blackfoot 117 6. Bonneville 132.