Runners finish fourth at Warrior Mountain Classic race

The Mountain Home Tigers girls and boys cross country teams both came in fourth place at the Meridian Warrior Mountain Classic cross country run near Smith's Ferry Saturday.

Rocky Mountain won the girls race with 35 points, edging Centennial, which had 38. Meridian was third with 82, a point ahead of Mountain Home's 83. Nampa finished with 139 points and Columbia did not have a complete team.

Leading Mountain Home's girls was Jordan Vivier, who finished 10th on what is considered by some as the toughest 5K course in the state. Her time was 21:69.

Arisha Karren finished 11th with a time of 22:02. Sarah Richins was 15th (22:31), Kacee Cameron 23rd (23:50), Haley Schaefer 24th (23:53) and Shelby Henrick 28th (24:49.7).

Rocky Mountain also won the boys race, coming in with 34 points. Meridian was second with 47, right ahead of Centennial, which finished with 49. Mountain Home and Nampa tied for fourth with 132 and Columbia was sixth with 162.

Dylan Johnson led Mountain Home, finishing 23rd with a time of 19:35.

Mike Price was 24th at 19:38, Jake Schaefer was 27th (19:57), Jon Dodge 28th (20:08), Daniel Courtright, 30th (20:31), Taylor Croft 35th (21:06) and Steven Kreyche 36th (21:44).

"The kids ran really well up there, for the elevation," said Tiger cross country coach Doug Root.

"Almost everyone on the team ran faster than they ran the same course last year, and they even lengthened the course, so I'm pleased with the way we ran."

The Tigers travel to Nampa Thursday for the Gary Ward Invitational cross country meet.

"They can almost call that a pre-district meet, as all the district teams should be there, so that will give us an idea of where we are," said Coach Root.

The Mountain Home runners gain homefield advantage when they host the Mountain Home Invitational on Oct. 14.