Harriers run in Bob Firman Invitational

As expected, the competition for Mountain Home runners was extremely tough at the Bob Firman Invitational Cross Country Meet at Eagle Island State Park Saturday, but the Mountain Home runners had good times.

In the Division I boys race, Jake Schaefer led Mountain Home runners, finishing 176th in a time of 18:33.12. Andy was close by, coming in 183rd (18:37.06). Daniel Courtright came in 234th (19:10.72), Steven Kreyche 267th (19:49.63), Cody Ashby 290th (20:22.75 and Andrew Turner 311th (23:22.62).

"The boys were competitive in the race," said Tiger cross country coach Doug Root. "We still aren't quite where we need to be, but our times are coming down in pretty good shape right now. Andy Croft and Jake Schaefer definitely have chances to possibly make it to state this year, but we've got to improve it a little bit more, and the rest of them are coming, so things are looking more positive."

Riley Urquidi ran in the ninth-grade boys race, finishing 100th in a time of 21:25.95.

Two Mountain Home girls ran in the ninth-grade girls race. Shilo Clark finished 68th in a time of 25:05.86 and Natalie Logue finished 105th in a time of 29:52.06.

Arisha Karren led the Mountain Home girls that ran in the Division II junior varsity race. She came in 14th in a time of 21:58.01. Aerial Groene was 35th in a time of 23:00.90. Myra Vasquez finished 52nd (23:44.17), Alicia Reynolds 58th (23:59.56), Tracey Gordon 106th (25:44.91), Aundrea Dickinson 132nd (27:14.75) and Erica Cook 135th (27:20.37).

"The girls had a great race," said Coach Root. "For the second week in a row, every girl on the team ran a seasonal PR. We've got Arisha Karren down under 22:00 right now, and Aerial Groene ran her best race of the year, so things are looking a lot better for the girls. They are coming along."

Mountain Home will host the Mountain Home Invitational this Friday at Desert Canyon Golf Course, where Coach Root indicates 17 teams are expected to participate.

"We have Melba and Cole Valley Christian are coming in from 2A, we have most of the District III and District IV 4A schools coming in, Elko's coming up and Borah will be here."

Action gets under way at 4:30 p.m. Friday at Desert Canyon Golf Course.