Yahoo Sports High school cross country preview: These are the top runners to watch in the Boise area
It was an unusually light year for Treasure Valley cross country teams in 2023, with only the Timberline girls finishing atop the podium at the state meet alongside four individual winners at the Portneuf Wellness Complex in Pocatello.
But the championships return to the Boise area this fall at Eagle Island State Park, and local runners are eager to flash their talent in front of hometown fans.
The Idaho Statesman surveyed District Three coaches to find out which runners we should be keeping an eye on this season.
TOP GIRLS TO WATCH
Faith Johnson, Owyhee
Among District Three runners, Johnson is the top returning finisher from last year’s 5A state meet, placing fourth. She won four of the eight races she entered last season, never falling below sixth place. The senior took second in her 2024 season debut at the Jimmy Driscoll Invite at Bishop Kelly.
Paisley Taylor, Meridian
She opened the 2024 season with a victory at the Jimmy Driscoll in 18 minutes, 25.1 seconds. Now a senior, she is looking to build on a fifth-place finish at last year’s state meet. She won two races in 2023 and added an 18th-place showing at the NXR Northwest Regional Championships.
Audrey Orme, Boise
Orme has already shown she can compete on the biggest stage, winning the 5A District Three championship a year ago and placing second in the elite race at Bob Firman. She ended up sixth at the state meet and then came in 13th at the NXR Northwest Regional Championships a few weeks later.
Camilla Freeman, Skyview
The reigning 4A District Three champion is also the top Treasure Valley returner from last year’s 4A state meet, placing 10th as a sophomore. She sustained a stress fracture during track last spring, but still managed to take fourth in the 3,200 and sixth in the 1,600 at state.
Ella Smith, Fruitland
Her debut freshman season included two victories, a runner-up finish at the 3A District Three championship and a fifth-place showing at state. She opened the 2024 season with a win at the New Plymouth Invitational.
Claire Matthews, Weiser
After a strong showing at the 3A state track meet in which she placed second in the 800, third in the 1,600 and fifth in the 3,200, Matthews is ready for a breakout year in cross country. She placed sixth at last year’s state meet and fourth as a freshman in 2022.
Anna Dixon, Greenleaf
She enters her senior year as the reigning 1A District Three champion and three-time state qualifier. Her previous state finishes were sixth (2023), fifth (2022) and second (2021). She’s also a former state track champion in the 800 and 1,600.
TOP BOYS TO WATCH
Nate Stadtlander, Meridian
The reigning 5A state champion is back to defend his title, and he came right out of the gate with a victory at the Jimmy Driscoll Invite at Bishop Kelly. Stadtlander also won a state track championship in the 1,600 last spring.
Jack Sheesley, Boise
Already a three-time 5A state qualifier, Sheesley has previous state finishes of fifth (2023), 16th (2022) and 23rd (2021). He was also part of the Brave’s state champion 4x800 relay team in track and clocked a 9:01.14 in the 3,200 at Nike Outdoor Nationals in June.
Cody Lucas, Rocky Mountain
Lucas qualified for the 5A state track meet in four events last spring, including a victory as part of the Grizzlies’ 4x400 relay team. He placed ninth at state cross country a year ago and is looking to make his third consecutive appearance.
Isaac Edwards, Bishop Kelly
The top three placers above him at last year’s 4A state meet have graduated, leaving Edwards as the favorite in the renamed 5A classification. He previously finished fourth (2023) and eighth (2022) at the state championships. He opened the season with a fifth-place showing at the Jimmy Driscoll Invite behind a quartet of 6A runners.
Landon Hillam, Fruitland
He ran to a runner-up finish at the 3A District Three meet as a freshman and then came in 11th at the state championships. His 2024 season is off with a bang, winning the New Plymouth Invitational.
Everett Metier, North Star
He’s won back-to-back 2A District Three championships entering his senior season. Metier has previously placed third (2023), 11th (2022) and 10th (2021) at the state meet. He was also the state runner-up in the 3,200 last spring.
Wyatt Stiff, Tri-Valley
There’s only one returning runner from last year’s 1A state meet who finished ahead of Stiff, who ran that meet sick and still took sixth. He won two meets in 2023 and added a runner-up finish at the district meet. He also placed second in the 3,200 at state track last spring.
KEY DATES
Sept. 28: Bob Firman Invite, Eagle Island State Park
Oct. 2: Gary Ward Invite, Lakeview Park (Nampa)
Oct. 10: Boise City Meet, Ann Morrison Park
Oct. 16: Winston Tilzey Invite, West Park (Nampa)
Nov. 2: 6A to 1A State Championships, Eagle Island State Park
TEAM PREVIEWS
The top runners to watch from each team around Southwest Idaho. Teams not listed did not respond to the Idaho Statesman’s survey.
Ambrose: Kylie Herdegen, jr.; Alex Patchin, sr.
Bishop Kelly: Jack Tobin, sr.; Zoey Stauffer, sr.; Isaac Edwards, sr.; Sarah Musser, jr.
Boise: Jack Sheesley, sr.; Audrey Orme, jr.
Borah: Griffin Hartman, jr.; Syghl Khmas, fr.; Luke Howard, jr.; Kate Groenert, so.
Cascade: Will Huckaby, so.
Centennial: Zangel Romero, sr.; Grace Hogg, sr.; Drew Donahue, jr.; Sawyer Jensen, jr.
Cole Valley Christian: Macie Keen, sr.
Council: Andrew Mendenhall, sr.; David Dillon, jr.; Greer Green, so.
Eagle: James Anderson, so.; Maxwell Taggart, jr.; Elizabeth (Lizzy) Baruch, sr.; Betsy Reeder, so.
Fruitland: Ella Smith, so.; Landon Hillam, so.; Bennet Smith, sr.; Kyya Howard, so.
Greenleaf: Anna Dixon, sr.
Idaho City: Zion Dougherty, sr.; Cody Young, jr.
Kuna: Adric Tait, fr.; Zach Richards, sr.; Lilyan Anderson, sr.; Zoe Fries, sr.
Liberty Charter: Aidyn Camarillo, sr.; Seth Mailly, so.; Aliya Johnson, fr.
Marsing: Brody Bowers, jr.; Kate Marshall, so.
Middleton: Cooper Vickhammer, sr.
Mountain View: Jocelyn Mathews, sr.; Ben Jensen, sr.
Nampa: Reed Swander, sr.; Nathan Buxton, sr.; Zyan Badejp, so.; Sylvia Huckins, jr.
Nampa Christian: Chase Dawson, so.; Noah Howerzyl, sr.; Bella Shellenberger, jr.; Marley Smith, jr.
New Plymouth: John Pounds, jr.
Owyhee: Faith Johnson, sr.; Carter Burdick, sr.
Parma: Megan Atkinson, sr.; Caden Stevens, sr.; Layla Page, so.
Ridgevue: Cash Chalupnik, so.; Luke Kurtin, sr.; AJ O’Dell, so.
Rocky Mountain: Cody Lucas, sr.; Chloe Pollock, sr.; Hyrum Tuft, jr.; Brooklyn Hom, sr.
Skyview: Camilla Freeman, jr.; Cache Peterson, jr.; Makalya Gardner, sr.; Maralee Freeman, fr.
Tri-Valley: Wyatt Stiff, jr.; Emma Barton, sr.; Adelyn Barton, jr.
Vallivue: Braxton Hofhines, sr.; Kenneth Hancock, sr.; Lilian Valdez, sr.; Olivia Provost, sr.
Victory Charter: Carson Hacking, fr.; Caleb Schlerf, jr.; Libby Stockett, so.; Taliah Rogers, jr.
Weiser: Claire Matthews, jr.; Blake Quinton, jr.
