Preview: 2022 Idaho 4A Boys & Girls Cross Country State Meet

Should be a great team battle between Idaho Fall and Bishop Kelly with both teams stacking up similarly. Idaho Falls' Ben Behrmann and Bishop Kelly's Austin Clough lead their teams in a meet that could be determined by the 3-5 runners. While most of the attention is usually focused on the top runners, this team battle could come down to those final scorers. BK will look for big races from all of their guys but will need big efforts from Isaac Edwards and Liam Duncan to see if they can get in front of Idaho Falls' Caeb Boyle, Eli Byrom, and Carter Bluth. Individually, Matt Thomas of Blackfoot is the favorite on paper (15:07), but Stockton Stevens (Twin falls, 15:17), Aaron Bradshaw (Burley, 15:23), and Samuel Fish (Vallivue, 15:31) are also looking to throw their names in the hat for top finishes.

Does anyone have a couple of coins to flip to see who walks out with the girls' 4A state championship trophy?? This should be a great team battle. On paper, it looks like Preston's tight pack-running should land the Indians on the top of the podium, but if Skyline's 3-5 stick close together and potentially crack a top-20 finish, they may jump out in front. Not to be overlooked will be the battle for the third-place team spot between Idaho Falls and Twin Falls. In dual meet scoring, Twin Falls comes out with a 26-29 victory over Idaho Falls based on top times achieved in 2022 for 4A. But with Championship scoring, they come out tied through the fifth runner (121 points) with the nod going to Idaho Falls' sixth runner. This should be a great race to keep an eye on. Skyline's Nelah Roberts is the returning state champion, and she looks to add another state title to her resume on Saturday. The 1-2 punch of Roberts and teammate Marina Renna look to claim those top two places in hopes of catapulting their team to the title and dethroning last year's team champions, Preston.

Skyline High School's Nelah Roberts

Preston High School's Tenley Kirkbride