Wrong term dooms girl cross-country team

The Mountain Home girls cross country team could have used a GPS system last Thursday at Jerome.

Mountain Home's top three girls runners took a wrong turn and ended up running an extra 100 meters, which cost them a first-place finish in the tri-meet. The girls had to settle for second place, their 42 points nine behind Jerome's 33. Middleton was third with 48 points.

"They ran rather well," said Tiger cross country coach Doug Root.

"We ran about 100 meters in the wrong direction, and by the time we got back on course, we caught back up to all but the second-place girl from Jerome and the first-place girl and ended up falling short to Jerome. We should have beat Jerome overall, but they got us by about nine points, and that difference would have been made up if we would have caught the one girl from Jerome who was right in front of them.

"My three girls, Alycia, Haley and Jordan were running very well in second, third and fourth place, and that dropped them into finishing fourth, fifth and sixth, so it was a big point differential."

Alycia Crandall led the Mountain Home girls. Her time of 22:41 placed her fourth. Haley Schaefer and Jordan Vivier were next in to the finish line.

Schaefer's time of 22:50 was four seconds better than Vivier's 22:54. Kaycee Cameron ran a 23:36, Ashley Mayberry, 25:15, McKenzie Dorr and Jessi Cameron both came in at 25:44.

"Kacee Cameron is showing she's about to catch up with that pack," said Coach Root. "She's improving each meet, and Ashley Mayberry ran very, very well. Our other three girls, Jessi Cameron, McKenzie Dorr and Tiana Svetkovich are working very hard to close up and give us a more competitive team."

Jerome won the boys meet with 20 points. Middleton was second with 48, and Mountain Home finished third with 73.

"The boys ran very well. We ran a lot closer to Middleton than I thought we would.

"Garrett Wood ran exceptionally well, with an all-time PR, and I really think that he can run better next time. Joe Gutierrez ran very, very well, and the boys are improving each week."

Garrett Wood finished ninth overall, with his career best time of 19:20. Joe Gutierrez was right behind with his 19:29. Dylan Johnson ran a 20:22, Gavin Cline, 20:30, Taylor Croft, 20:35, and Colby Hall, 20:44.

Tiana Svetkovich ran a 27:05 in the girls J. race, and Chris Austin set a new PR in the JV boys race, running a 20:52. Stephen Bush ran a 21:57.

The Tigers host the Mountain Home Invitational tomorrow (Thursday) at Desert Canyon Golf Course.

"The two top teams in the 5A division are going to be here in Twin Falls and Mountain View," said Coach Root.

"Wood River's going to be another 4A that will be here. Rimrock's going to come up, and there should be two or three other teams here, so it should be a pretty good meet."