Idaho cross country preview: These are the top runners to watch from the Boise area
The 2022 Idaho high school cross country season begins in earnest this week as more than 40 Treasure Valley teams test their mettle between the New Plymouth and Jimmy Driscoll invites.
The Treasure Valley is home to four returning individual state champions and three reigning team champs, with many up-and-coming-runners right on their heels.
Here are the top athletes entering this season, according to coaches around the valley.
TOP GIRLS TO WATCH
Allie Bruce, Boise
She headlines a loaded Brave roster as the defending 5A individual state champion. She played soccer during the fall the last two seasons but is stepping away from the sport to focus on cross country this year.
Sammy Smith, Boise
The 2020 5A state champion and 2021 runner-up is one of the top soccer prospects in the nation for her age group, but she isn’t just a beast on the field. After an injury kept her away from the track last spring, she’s back to contend for more hardware this fall.
Rilyn Stevens, Mountain View
The 2021 5A District Three runner-up placed third in the 3,200 at state this past spring. She’s poised to improve on her sixth-place finish at state from a year ago.
Kayelee Austin, Middleton
Kuna moves from the 4A to 5A classification this season, putting another top 5 state finisher in the mix. Austin, who also plays soccer in the fall, placed fourth at last year’s 4A state meet.
Kylee Quinton, Weiser
As a junior, she took second at the 3A District Three meet and is the top returning finisher. She added a sixth-place finish at state to help Weiser to a fourth-place team trophy.
Cameron Moore, Ambrose
The reigning 2A District Three and state champion is back to defend her titles. She won last year’s state meet by nearly 30 seconds.
Anna Dixon, Greenleaf
She made a splash in her freshman debut, running to a second-place finish at both the 1A District Three and state meets. During the track season, she won the state title in the 1,600 and was runner-up in the 800.
TOP BOYS TO WATCH
Landon Heemeyer, Rocky Mountain
With Idaho Falls’ move down to the 4A classification, Heemeyer is the top returning finisher from last year’s 5A state meet. Now the junior, who finished third, is poised to contend for the top spot in the state this fall if he can hold off teammates Tyler Sainsbury and Keith Uitdewilligen.
Kaden Helder, Boise
After a seventh-place finish at last year’s 5A District Three meet, he moved up at state, crossing the finish line in fifth. He’ll have fellow junior Noe Kemper, who took 13th at state, to push him in practice.
Andrew Ringert, Eagle
The junior is the school record holder in both the 3,000 and 3,200, and he’ll be a top contender for 5A District Three and state championships after coming in seventh at state last season.
Austin Clough, Bishop Kelly
He took third in the 3,200 meters during the track season last spring, and added a pair of fourth-place finishes in the 800 and 1,600. As a junior, he was the top finisher at the 2021 4A state meet in ninth place.
Samuel Fish, Vallivue
Fish finished just outside the top 10 at last year’s 4A state meet in 12th. After a strong track season that saw him take fourth in the 3,200 meters, he’ll go head-to-head with Clough for District Three supremacy.
Jack McManus, McCall-Donnelly
McManus is the top returning finisher from last year’s 3A state meet, taking third behind a pair of Snake River seniors. He made the 1,600 and 3,200 finals at the state track meet last spring.
Ian Stockett, Victory Charter
The two-time 1A state champion will go for his third consecutive title this fall, but he’ll need to keep his eye on younger brother Luke Stockett, who was third at state a year ago.
KEY DATES
The top meets on the schedule this fall.
Aug. 27: Jimmy Driscoll Invitational, Bishop Kelly High (Boise)
Sept. 1: Caldwell Twilight, Brothers Park (Caldwell)
Sept. 24: Bob Firman Invite, Eagle Island State Park
Sept. 29: Gary Ward Invite, Lakeview Park (Nampa)
Oct. 6: Boise City Championship, Ann Morrison Park (Boise)
Oct. 20: 4A District Three Championship, Eagle Island State Park
Oct. 21: 5A District Three Championship, Eagle Island State Park
Oct. 29: 5A to 1A state meets, Lewiston Orchards (Lewiston)
TEAM PREVIEWS
The top athletes to watch from each team that responded to the Idaho Statesman’s preseason survey.
Boise: Allie Bruce, jr.; Sammy Smith, jr.; Noe Kemper, jr.; Kaden Helder, jr.
Eagle: Andrew Ringert, jr.; Michael Altenburg, sr.; Elizabeth Baruch, so.; Allie Hipwell, sr.
Meridian: Aubrey Kohler, sr.; Nate Stadtlander, so.; Paisley Taylor, so.; Marion Packer, sr.
Middleton: Kayelee Austin, sr.
Nampa: Noah Howerzyl, so.; Finnley Olson, so.; Jocelyn Federico, sr.; Annie Edmonds, jr.
Owyhee: Faith Johnson, so.; Brayden Bowen, sr.
Rocky Mountain: Landon Heemeyer, jr.; Tyler Sainsbury, sr.; Keith Uitdewilligen, sr.; Brighton Heywood, jr.
Bishop Kelly: Austin Clough, sr.; Jack Tobin, so.; Charlie Goss, jr.
Ridgevue: Brayden Wade, jr.
Skyview: Jacob Reed, sr.; Christopher Peterson, fr.; Sophia Krzemien, jr.; Makalya Gardner, so.
Vallivue: Samuel Fish, sr.; Aaron Williamson, sr.; Michelle Ramirez, sr.; November Oxier-Mori, jr.
Fruitland: Ethan Starr, jr.; Israel Norris, sr.; Bennett Smith, so.; Braylee Peterson, jr.
McCall-Donnelly: Jack McManus, sr.; George Speirs, jr.; Olivia Cline, so.
Parma: Bronson Beus, sr.; Haylee Gentry, so.
Weiser: Kylee Quinton, sr.; Kendall Rynearson, jr.; Claire Mathews, fr.; Josh Kelley, so.
Ambrose: Cameron Moore, sr.; Josiah Schiebout, sr.; Carter Langin, fr.
Melba: Ravio Manzer, jr.; Rozzlyn Cazier, sr.
Nampa Christian: Noah Howerzyl, so.; Finnley Olson, so.; Jocelyn Federico, sr.; Annie Edmonds, jr.
New Plymouth: Jordan Steers, jr.; Hazel Black, so.; Hiatt Beus, sr.
North Star Charter: Everett Meiter, so.; Keith Pelham, jr.
Idaho City: Levi Kindelberger, sr.
Victory Charter: Ian Stockett, sr.; Luke Stockett, jr.; Connor D. Robbins, sr.; Benton Bernard, jr.
Cascade: Tyler Thurston, jr.; Cole Olson, so.; Carson Rowley, sr.; Faith Inwards, sr.
Council: Levi Armichardy, sr.
Tri-Valley: Wyatt Stiff, fr.; Peyton Waters, so.; Emma Barton, so.; Adelyn Barton, fr.
