PRINEVILLE — It was a day for repeat champions at the Intermountain Conference cross-country championships on Thursday afternoon at Crook River Park.
First, Caldera senior Maddie Carney pulled away from the field to win her second-consecutive IMC girls title in 18 minutes, 14.4 seconds. Then Summit senior Bjorn Blankenship built a sizable lead to finish in 15:07.3 and claim his second-straight IMC boys title.
“Every year, so many girls are fast and competitive, so nothing is ever guaranteed coming into these races,” Carney said. “This is my senior year, and this is my time to give it my all and leave my mark the best that I can.”
Said Blankenship: “It feels really good to be able to perform against such great competition.”
It was no surprise to see Carney and Blankenship atop the podium. Carney was last year’s Class 5A state champion. Blankenship finished second at state last year but went on to win the 3,000-meter title during track season.
Both Carney and Blankenship will be among the favorites to contend for individual titles at the state cross-country championships at Lane Community College in Eugene on Nov. 7. The Summit boys team is the clear favorite to win the team title.
“We are in such a competitive state and such a competitive region, where winning state is a big deal,” Blankenship said. “It is something that we have circled on our calendars. It would be amazing to win that title.”
As the defending champion, Carney knows repeating will be no jog in the park, especially with a talented Crater team with multiple runners who could push for a title.
“Going into the state, it’s going to be really competitive,” Carney said. “All the teams are really competitive, with great girls ranked really high. For me, I just need to know that it is my race and I am going to run my race and not worry about anyone else.”
Summit girls get the narrow win
Coming into Thursday’s race, the IMC girls team title was up for grabs. Both Summit and Bend High had their sights set on the conference championship.
And it came down to the wire.
After Carney, Redmond sophomore Abigail Davis finished second in 18:49.6 and Caldera junior Miley Morical placed third (19:14.6). Bend’s top two runners placed fourth and fifth: Junior Hannah Miller (19:20.8) and senior Magnolia Rowles (19:33.6).
Then came four consecutive Summit runners, led by freshman Sage Jones (19:49.4). Jones was immediately followed by sophomore Kloey Drewsen (20:00.3), junior Cassidy Carmichael (20:00.4) and freshman Elizabeth Rauber (20:05.8).
To dethrone Summit, which has won 16 of the last 17 state titles, the Lava Bears needed their next three runners to finish ahead of Summit’s next three.
Bend had two runners — sophomore Simone Halpern and junior Brook Sandvall — closing in on Summit sophomore Lola Marshall, with less than a fraction of a second separating the three.
Halpern finished 10th in 20:07.3, followed by Marshall in 20:07.5 and Sandvall, also in 20:07.5.
“I was out there racing for my team, and I am glad that I showed up for them,” Marshall said.
Marshall’s finish was enough to give the Storm a 41-47 victory over the Lava Bears.
“They really dug deep for that,” Summit coach Kari Strang said. “They ran with such heart and for each other. It was honestly one of the most exciting races to watch. I am so proud of them. I think they gave everything they had out there and did it for one another. It was a beautiful thing to watch.”
Both Summit and Bend qualified for state as teams, while Carney, Davis and Morical qualified as individuals for the 5A state meet.
Summit boys dominate
The Summit boys team is considered the best in the state — and among the best in the nation.
Both MileSplit.com and DyeStat.com have the Storm ranked No. 2 in their national team rankings. Heading into the 5A meet, Summit should have little problem claiming its first state title since 2015.
For a team with state, regional and national aspirations in the coming weeks, Thursday’s district meet was a positive first step.
The first four runners to cross the finish line were Storm runners. Blankenship was followed by junior Landon Kjorstad (15:31.4), senior Charlie English (15:36.0) and senior Hudson Boaz (15:50.9). (Summit’s Clayton Jero was in the lead with Blankenship for much of the race but did not finish.)
“I was glad to have an opportunity to sharpen the blade before state,” Blankenship said. “I think the training has been stacking up not only for me, but for the other athletes on the team.
“The best part is when I cross the finish line and look back and see three more dudes hauling my way,” Blankenship added. “The best part for me is seeing my team perform.”
Bend also qualified for state as a team, with three runners finishing in the top 10. Fifth-place finisher Caden Wenger (15:53.9) led the way, followed by junior Fisher Olin in seventh (16:32.4) and freshman Ethan Morgan in 10th (16:42.8).
Mountain View junior Conlan O’Sullivan also qualified for the 5A state meet as an individual, placing sixth in 16:19.8.
Girls
Team scores – Summit 41, Bend 47, Caldera 64, Mountain View 118, Redmond 140, Crook County 159, Ridgeview 162.
Top 10 finishers – 1. Maddie Carney, Caldera, 18:14.4; 2. Abigail Davis, Redmond, 18:49.6; 3. Miley Morical, Caldera, 19:14.6; Hannah Miller, Bend, 19:20.8; 5. Magnolia Rowles, Bend, 19:33.6; 6. Sage Jones, Summit, 19:49.4; 7. Kloey Drewsen, Summit, 20:00.3; 8. Cassidy Carmichael, Summit, 20:00.4; 9. Elizabeth Rauber, Summit, 20:05.8; 10. Simone Halpern, Bend, 20:07.3.
Boys
Team scores – Summit 21, Bend 51, Caldera 95, Mountain View 95, Crook County 120, Ridgeview 155, Redmond 169.
Top 10 finishers – 1. Bjorn Blankenship, Summit, 15:07.3; 2. Landon Kjorstad, Summit, 15:31.4; 3. Charlie English, Summit, 15:36.0; 4. Hudson Boaz, Summit 15:50.9; 5. Caden Wenger, Bend, 15:53.9; 6. Conlan O’Sullivan, Mountain View, 16:19.8; 7 Fisher Olin, Bend, 16:32.4; Kannon Whiting, Crook County, 16:34.4; 9. Caleb Shaw, Ridgeview, 16:43.7; Ethan Morgan, Bend, 16:42.8.
