District 5: Snake River and Malad girls win state titles, Century’s Hansen repeats, Soda Springs’ Uskoski claims title

POCATELLO – It was a big day for District 5 girls at Saturday’s Cross Country State Championships.

Snake River won the 4A girls team title with 56 points, with Preston finishing second.

Malad won its second consecutive 3A team title, topping runner-up North Fremont by 55 points. Brielle Nalder was the top Dragon finisher, placing fourth.

Led by Adyson DeClark’s third-place finish and Ivana Vasquez placing fifth, Century earned a third-place team trophy in 5A.

Individually, the day belonged to a freshman as Soda Springs’ Anna Uskoski cruised to a win in the 3A race. Sophomore teammate Brinley Kunz medaled in 13th place, giving the Cardinals a young 1-2 punch.

Uskoski won her last seven races after finishing third and second in her first two events.

“I’ve grown up in cross country,” she said, noting her family influence in the sport. “It’s such a great environment and everybody is so encouraging and uplifting.”

Uskoski said she didn’t really set expectations for her freshman season.

“You don’t expect success, you work for it,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to be up there (on the podium).”

In one of the top finishes of the day, Uskoski edged Nampa Christian’s Phoebe Mitchell at the line 19:20.4 to 19:20.7.

Snake River’s title run was bolstered by Paeyton Poloatis and Savaya Christensen, who finished second and fourth, respectively. Gwen Jones, in 12th place, and Sorella High in 13th, also earned medals for the Panthers.

The Preston girls, led by Taryn Campbell in seventh place, and Avery Hansen in 10th, earned the second-place 4A trophy behind Snake River.

Makenzie Tucker of Highland was the top area girls finisher in 6A, placing fifth. The Rams’ Spencer Smith placed eighth in the boys race.

But District 5’s success wasn’t all about the girls.

Century’s Ethan Hansen won his second straight 5A title, with teammate Ammon Bitton placing third.

“This has been a really crazy year,” Hansen said after receiving his medal. “This is only the second win I’ve had all season.”

Hansen noted that’s because friend and fellow senior Bitton also had an outstanding year as the two pushed each other to reach the state podium.

Hansen’s time of 15:11.9 was not a personal best, but it did set a 5A state record for the Portneuf Wellness Complex course.

“It’s super exciting to come back and perform like I have,” he said. “It doesn’t matter who’s on the line, you just have to go out and race your best race.”

Defending 3A boys champion Malad placed second, with Jace Nalder finishing third.

In the 4A boys race, Alex Scott of Preston finished sixth, followed by Ryan Burnett in eighth and Dylin Leffler in ninth to push the Indians to third place in the team standings.

The Rockland boys placed third in the 2A/1A race, with Xavier Parrish placing fifth, followed by Nick Miskin in sixth.

Full results for area District 5 and District 6 teams.

6A

GIRLS
Medalists
5. Makenzie Tucker, Highland, 18:26.6
18. Klarisa Earl, Thunder Ridge, 19:09.5

BOYS
Medalists
6. Jonas Porter, Rigby, 15:48.8
8. Spencer Smith, Highland, 15:55.1
12. Weston Thueson, Thunder Ridge, 16:18.5

Teams: 4. Rigby 123.

5A

GIRLS
Medalists
3. Adyson DeClark, Century, 19:22.3
4. Eliza Peck, Idaho Falls, 19:30.9
5. Ivana Vasquez, Century, 19:36.2
10. Melody Chandler, Skyline, 20:26.0
12. Sailor Tomazin, Blackfoot, 20:30.3
13. Sophia Harrison, Skyline, 20:30.9
18. Stefanie Callahan, Shelley, 20:37.9

Teams: 3. Century 91.

BOYS
Medalists
1. Ethan Hansen, Century, 15:11.9
2. Davis Roberts, Skyline, 15:34.4
3. Ammon Bitton, Century, 15:41.4
4. Owen Gregory, Blackfoot, 15:44.6
5. Williams McCombs, Skyline, 16:11.6
8. Jackson Bushman, Idaho Falls, 16:18.1
9. Mack Bush, Shelley, 16:18.9
11. Carter Boyle, Idaho Falls, 16:20.8
13. Collin Christensen, Pocatello, 16:35.4
15. Lincoln Johnson, Skyline, 16:37.7
18. Owen Frandsen, Hillcrest, 16:46.8
20. Hayden Olcott, Century, 16:47.6

Teams: 1. Skyline 59, 4. Blackfoot 116.

4A

GIRLS
Medalists
2. Paeyton Poloatis, Snake River, 19:19.7
4. Savaya Christensen, Snake River, 19:36.7
7. Taryn Campbell, Preston, 19:49.9
10. Avery Hansen, Preston, 20.036
11. Stella Pistoresi, Teton, 20:05.0
12. Gwen Jones, Snake River, 20:07.4
13: Sorella High, Snake River, 20:10.2
15. Evelyn Green, Sugar-Salem, 20:15.7
17. Janyja Jackson, Sugar-Salem, 20:18.4
18. Avery Fullmer, Preston, 20:19.2
19. Payce Jones, Preston, 20:24.2
20. Clare Hunter, Teton, 20:24.4

Teams: 1. Snake River 56, 2. Preston 82, 3. Sugar-Salem 99.

BOYS
Medalists
1. Darrel Dickson, Sugar-Salem, 15:07.5
4. Adam Willis, Sugar-Salem, 16:15.8
6. Alex Scott, Preston, 16:20.1
8. Ryan Burnett, Preston, 16:45.0
9. Dylin Leffler, Preston, 16:46.2
10. Colson Mattson, Bear Lake, 16:51.5
12. Bradley Dickson, Sugar-Salem, 16:58.8
13. Slade Pacheco, South Fremont, 17:00.5
17. Beau Ashcraft, South Fremont, 17:07.9
19. Archer Clark, Bear Lake, 17:13.7

Teams: 2. Sugar-Salem, 3. Preston, 4. South Fremont.

3A

GIRLS
Medalists
1. Anna Uskoski, Soda Springs, 19:20.4
3. Eliza Bingham, North Fremont, 19:41.9
4. Brielle Nalder, Malad, 19:46.8
5. Andrea Anderson, North Fremont, 19:52.5
6. Bella Spencer, West Jefferson, 20:05.06
7. Madeline Howell, Ririe, 20:06.1
8. Anslea Mumford, West Side, 20:10.6
10. Lila Romney, Ririe, 20.27.9
11. Aezlyn Summers, Malad, 20:46.1
12. Brielle Bastian, Malad, 20:59.6
13. Brinley Kunz, Soda Springs, 21:01.8
14. Allie Nelson, Firth, 21:03.6
15. Kacee Cook, Firth, 21:13.8
19. Kinzlie Yates, Firth, 21:17.4

Teams: 1. Malad 58, 3. North Fremont 113, 4. Firth 118.

BOYS
Medalists
3. Jace Nalder, Malad, 16:43.8
4. Reuben Uskoski, Soda Springs, 16:48.6
6. Cody Baxter, Ririe, 16:52.3
9. Grant Palmer, North Fremont, 17:08.2
11. Dylon Clark, Ririe, 17:14.5
12. Ben Reinke, North Fremont, 17:18.6
14. Joseph Angell, Malad, 17:22.6
15. Jaxon Belnap, Marsh Valley, 17:24.6
16. Braun Nalder, Malad, 17:28.6
17. Lukas Stanger, Marsh Valley, 17:32.5
18. Elias Beutler, West Side, 17:33.4
19. Krew Johnston, North Fremont, 17:33.8
20. Theodore Hardin, Alturas Prep, 17:38.8

Teams: 2. Malad 67, 3. North Fremont 79, 4. Marsh Valley 95.

2A/1A

GIRLS
Medalists
7. Lydia Babcock, Butte County, 20:29.0
15. Lily Coleman, Grace, 21:25.4
20. Faith Thomander, Butte County, 21:40.4

BOYS
Medalists
5. Xavier Parrish, Rockland, 17:53.3
6. Nick Miskin, Rockland, 17:55.8
10. Jace Jones, Leadore, 18:07.7
16. Gunner Bird, Grace, 18:21.5
17. Cristian Brown, Leadore, 18:23.5
18. Talan Johnson, Taylor’s Crossing, 18:23.7
19. Christian Barrett, Challis, 18:27.0

Teams: 3. Rockland 85.