Eyes on Idaho: Gem State Runners Step Up At Bob Firman

By Marlowe Hereford for DyeStat

EAGLE ISLAND STATE PARK, Idaho — While talent and big-time performances from other states were on display at  Saturday’s 44th annual Bob Firman Invitational, the host state put on a show of its own at Eagle Island State Park.

Early in the afternoon, Boise won the girls elite team title 85-95 over US#5 Great Oak CA, the first Idaho team to win a Bob Firman elite boys or girls race since 2004. Less than an hour later, three Idaho runners finished in the top five of the boys elite race.

Idaho Falls senior Zach Erikson came in second in 15:09.4, Borah sophomore Nathan Green was third in 15:10.9 and Bishop Kelly senior Nick Russell was fifth in 15:19.6.

The top-five finishes come a year after Russell, Erikson and Stetson Moss (formerly of Bonneville, now of first-year school Thunder Ridge) finished in the top 12, and their times Saturday were all improvements from last year’s meet. Russell and Moss advanced to NXN last year, placing 16th and 17th, respectively.

While they are all of different ages, and represent different schools in a variety of classifications, their collective acknowledgement of what they are striving for is real. Saturday’s finishes not only provided moments of reflection, but reasons for inspiration.

“Hopefully it gives us more attention,” said Erikson, who bettered his personal best by 24 seconds Saturday and helped lead Idaho Falls to a fourth-place finish in the team standings with 192 points.

“Our competitive spirit has made us reach higher. It’s great so far.”

Saturday was the first Bob Firman experience for Green, who was sidelined after one meet in the 2017 cross country season due to a broken growth plate in his hip. While new to Bob Firman and the Idaho cross country scene, Green is a burgeoning star. He caught the attention of Borah coach Tim Severa when he ran a Boise school district 1,600 record time of 4:43 as an eighth-grader.

“I don’t know how to describe it,” Green said. “To know I’m a part of this group of Idaho runners...It’s such an honor to run with these guys.”

Moss did not compete Saturday due to a hamstring injury that has kept him out almost three weeks, but he was in attendance with his family to support younger sister Jessica (she won the freshman girls race in 19:24.3) and watch other races. Like Green, he paused several times attempting to describe the 2018 season so far for Idaho cross country.

“I feel like we’ve been building up runners for so long,” Moss said. “I don’t know how to explain it. We’ve just been building up and running for so long and it’s working right now.”

How exactly does the 2018 season thus far compare to previous years? Sugar-Salem head coach Brett Hill, who has won a combined 38 state titles in cross country and track in 26 years of coaching in Idaho, put it in perspective.

Hill credits meets like Bob Firman, as well as powerhouse programs in border states, for pushing Idaho to reach that same level of success.

“We’ve had teams who have been great, but we’ve never had this peculiar, massive group of teams,” Hill said. “Our neighbors to the south in Utah have pushed us. Then you have Bozeman in Montana, Wyoming programs like Star Valley and Jackson. It motivates your kids to believe.”

Predecessors are also credited for this crop of talent. Green, whose inspiration is the late Steve Prefontaine, said he didn’t start following the Idaho running scene closely until he entered high school.

Erikson and Moss said previous Idaho runners have inspired them, even some well before their time. The first athlete Moss mentioned was 1999 Bonneville graduate Jed Barta, who still owns Idaho’s 5A classification record for 3,200 meters (9:06.58) and was the last boy from an Idaho Falls-based high school to qualify for a national cross country meet (Foot Locker) until Moss.

“I wanted to get his records,” Moss said. “I want to be able to compete at higher levels.”

Another of Moss’ inspirations was in attendance at Bob Firman: Pocatello graduate and current Boise State athlete Elijah Armstrong. Now in his sophomore season for the Broncos, Armstrong returned in the summer from his two-year LDS mission to London and took time to visit with Idaho runners Saturday.

“I think that’s the end goal I wanted...leave a legacy. Something to aspire for,” Armstrong said. “I think something about the sport is, I love it personally. If I can inspire others, help them to get to their goals and dreams just as much as I want to, that’s the bigger picture.” 

For this latest crop of Idaho runners, some of those goals and dreams are months away.

Erikson said NXN is on his mind, as well as what Idaho could do there. He placed 29th last year at NXR Northwest, which takes place at Eagle Island.

“I’ve been thinking about the end the entire season,” Erikson said. “I’m thinking NXN. Nothing’s set in stone, but it’s all part of the process.”

Green, who is still getting acclimated to different races and competition, is also thinking NXN. Particularly, to send a message.

“Nick, Zach and I and Stetson Moss, we’re all striving for great times,” Green said. “We want to get Idaho on the radar and show Idaho has great runners.”

Returning to NXN, but with more Idaho runners, is one of many reasons Moss said he can’t wait to compete again once he’s healed. He has been working out on an elliptical machine since his injury and started running again within the last week.

“For NXR, Idaho is gonna be bringing more of the top boys (in the region),” Moss aid. “NXR is gonna be so stacked. If everyone plays their cards right, there’s definitely gonna be some sub-15 times.”