Two girls earn state x-country bid

Haley Schaefer and Alysia Crandall both qualified for this week's State 4A Cross Country meet in Idaho Falls.

The two earned the trip by their performances at last week's District III 4A cross country meet at Eagle Island State Park. They will run in the state meet at Freeman Park in Idaho Falls on Saturday.

Schaefer, a freshman, finished 12th, with a best time of 21:10. Crandall, a sophomore, finished 17th, with a career best time of 21:36.

"They both ran extremely well at district and both broke the 22-minute barrier," said Tiger cross country coach Doug Root. "All the girls ran extremely well. We had a great showing from all seven of them. Everybody but one ran a personal best, and the girl who didn't was very, very close to her personal best, so I'm very pleased with their performances."

Coach Root was hoping his girls could make it to state as a team, which would have meant placing in the top four. The Mountain Home girls were sixth, but just five points out of fourth.

"We knew going in that the last spot would be between the five of us, and Columbia came in (fourth) with 128 points, and we had 133, and Skyview was ahead of us with 130, and actually Middleton was right behind us with 135, so it could have been anybody's race. What it boils down to is if one girl could have beat three others or three girls would beat one other, we'd have been there."

Besides Schaefer and Crandall, Jordan Vivier came in 28th, with her best time of 22:34, Jessi Cameron set a new career best with a time of 22:43, good for 32nd, Jennica Quintal finished 45th with a time of 24:10, Tiana Svetkovich was next, with a career best 24:46, and Alysia Caldwell finished 50th with a career best of 25:37.

Three Mountain Home girls ran in the District JV race.

Ashley Benham finished 20th with a best ever time of 25:57, Courtney Ashford finished 23rd with a 26:02, and Korie Foster finished 31st with a time of 31:50.

The Tiger boys came in eighth in the boys competition.

"The guys ran well, but it was real tough competition," said Coach Root.

Nick Reynolds led the Tiger boys, finishing 36th with a time of 19:02. Matt Bernyk was next with a 19:10, followed by Dylan Johnson, who ran a best ever 19:13. Garrett Wood set a new personal best with his 19:58, which placed him 48th. Andrew Martin ran a 20:47, good for 52nd, and Nico Pinque came in with a 21:16, which was 54th.