Nike Cross Northwest Regional Showcases the PNW
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The Nike Cross Northwest Regional in Boise, ID, delivered an exciting set of races across both the boys' and girls' competitions. Athletes pushed hard for the coveted spots at the Nike Cross Nationals, with standout individual performances and impressive team results that showcased the depth of talent in the Northwest region.
Tayvon Kitchen of Crater High School emerged as the champion in the boys' race, clocking a time of 14:53.3. Kitchen, the top returner from last year's regional, made good on his potential after finishing fourth in 2023. Jase Burton of Star Valley High School followed closely behind, securing second place with a time of 14:55.3. Owen Powell of Mercer Island High School finished in third place with a time of 14:57.0, while Kade Brownell of Mount Spokane High School and Nate Stadtlander of Meridian High School rounded out the top five with times of 14:57.1 and 14:58.1, respectively.
PLACE | VIDEO | ATHLETE | TEAM | MARK | POINTS | |
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1 | 12 | Crater | 14:53.30 | 1 | ||
2 | 12 | Star Valley High School | 14:55.30 | 2 | ||
3 | 12 | Mercer Island High School | 14:57.00 | 3 | ||
4 | Kade Brownell | 12 | Mount Spokane High School | 14:57.10 | ||
5 | 12 | Meridian High School | 14:58.10 |
The boys' team competition saw Coeur d'Alene High School claim their second consecutive title, improving on last year's 113-point performance with a total of 86 points and a 15:30 average time. The team's depth was showcased by strong performances from Max Cervi-Skinner, who finished 9th overall with a time of 15:02.7, and Zackery Cervi-Skinner, who placed 12th with 15:15.2. Jesuit made a big leap, improving from 6th last year to finish second in 151 points, while Rocky Mountain High School secured third with 169 points. Both teams demonstrated considerable improvement from their previous campaigns, with Jesuit's performance reflecting their rise from last year's position.
Chloe Huyler of Lakeridge continued her undefeated season with a victory in 17:00.0, marking her ninth win of the fall. This performance was a dramatic improvement from her 32nd-place finish at last year's NXR Northwest Regional, as she ran 1 minute and 25 seconds faster, cementing her position as one of the region's top athletes. Sophia Rodriguez of Mercer Island High School earned the runner-up spot with a time of 17:04.9, improving from a 26th-place finish in 2023. Emily Wisniewski of Crescent Valley, who had won last year, came in third with a time of 17:14.9, showing that the competition for the top spots remained fierce.
PLACE | VIDEO | ATHLETE | TEAM | MARK | POINTS | |
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1 | 12 | Lakeridge | 17:00.00 | 1 | ||
2 | 10 | Mercer Island High School | 17:04.90 | 2 | ||
3 | 12 | Crescent Valley | 17:14.90 | 3 | ||
4 | 12 | Mercer Island High School | 17:21.30 | 4 |
The girls' team race saw significant shifts from last year, with Rocky Mountain High School improving on their fourth-place finish to claim the team title with 99 points and an average time of 18:34. The team's depth was key to their success, with solid performances across their scoring five, including top runner Hallie Heemeyer, who placed 7th overall with a time of 18:07.2. Lincoln High School, last year's team champions, finished as the runner-up with 183 points, while Timberline High School (Boise) placed third with 187 points. The competition for the top spots in the girls' race was incredibly tight, reflecting the overall strength of the teams in the region.