Landon Heemeyer of Rocky Mountain ID, Jane Hedengren of Timpview UT Run To Individual Victories At First Bob Firman Invite Since 2019

By Marlowe Hereford for DyeStat

EAGLE ISLAND STATE PARK, Idaho --The enthusiasm was evident everywhere Saturday at Eagle Island State Park, 12 miles northwest of Boise.

Other than the seniors who competed as freshmen in 2019, most of the runners representing teams from throughout the Northwest, Southwest and California experienced their first Bob Firman Invitational at long last. The meet was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19, but it was back in full force with team tents along Poplar Lane, music blaring from the start/finish line and a steady stream of customers lining up to purchase Nike merchandise adorned with the meet logo.

"It was awesome today," said Timpview (Utah) sophomore Jane Hedengren, the girls elite race champion in a meet record 17:25.8. "I'm just grateful for the opportunity to be able to travel down here and compete against some very talented girls."

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Saturday was an especially good day for teams from Utah and host state Idaho.

Rocky Mountain of nearby Meridian made history on the boys side, claiming the elite title with a score of 117 and junior Landon Heemeyer won the individual title in a meet record 14:58.4. Heemeyer is the first Idaho boy to win Bob Firman since Highland's Dallin Farnsworth won back-to-back titles in 2010 and 2011, and it was Heemeyer's second sub-15 time this season. 

The Rocky Mountain boys became the first team from Idaho to win the Bob Firman elite title. The meet dates back to 2008.

"This is our backyard," said Porter Carlson, a junior who finished 112th in 17:08.2 on Saturday. "This is our fortress. This where we practice every single day and that definitely helps us out."

An established powerhouse in the Idaho 5A classification in both boys cross country and track, the Grizzlies credit their coaches and their practices for the success that has garnered national attention thus far this season. Rocky Mountain is ranked third in the Northwest region.

"I think a lot of it has to do with our coaches," said Hunter Hill, a senior who finished 24th in 15:58.3. "We have to give them a lot of credit. I think the values they have instilled in us in terms of just how we view racing, how we view competition and how we're supposed to work for each other, I think that's really what's led to the rise you've seen these past few years."

Heemeyer said this season is the product of work from prior seasons and Rocky Mountain runners who came before them.

"We've definitely been building for many, many years," Heemeyer said.

As for his individual win and course record, taking down Thomas Boyden's 2019 time, Heemeyer was not concerned about the clock going into the race.

"Today I wasn't worrying about my time at all," Heemeyer said. "I was just trying to race bodies and see how I stack up against all these awesome teams coming from all over."

With an historic first-place Nike shoe-adorned trophy in hand, the Grizzlies are seeking more. They said they want to be the first Idaho boys team to qualify for Nike Cross Nationals. They have the chance to do so in November at Nike Cross Northwest Regionals, which also takes place at Eagle Island.

"I think we look forward to contributing more historic moments at NXR and hopefully NXN," Hill said. "I think this is just the first of many, especially in the next few years."

Bozeman senior Weston Brown finished second in 15:12, attaining a personal best to add to what has been a memorable high school cross country debut so far. 

Brown made the switch from soccer to cross country after capturing Montana's Class AA 3,200 state championship in May.

"I've always done soccer," Brown said. "Me and my teammate, (junior) Nathan (Neil), who got fifth, both switched from soccer to cross country this season. It's been a super fun year. I'm really looking forward to the rest of the season."

Brown entered Saturday having won all three races he had competed in so far in his debut season. He has broken 16 minutes every time.

Eagle Island provided a bit of a challenge due to the varying terrain.

"This race was tough," Brown said. "Running on sand and stuff is weird."

Woods Cross senior Sam Hansen placed third in a personal best 15:13.1 to lead Utah finishers in the boys race. Three years ago, he won the Bob Firman freshman boys race.

While Idaho doubled up with an individual and team champion on the boys side, Utah completed an individual and trophy haul on the girls side.

Hedengren was joined in the top three individual finishers by Skyline (Idaho) junior Nelah Roberts in second in 17:46.5 and Timpanogos (Utah) senior Raygan Peterson in third in 17:55.1. Peterson added a second medal to her day as Timpanogos won the team title with a score of 82. All seven girls placed in the top 60, and four were in the top 30.

Hedengren's original plan Saturday was to wait until the 2-mile mark before making a move, but she moved into the lead somewhere between 400 and 800 meters into the race. Her lead only grew, and it resulted in her third of the season.

Utah's defending 5A state runner-up, Hedengren said she entered Saturday following a two-week break. 

"I'm actually trying to get back in shape and get back into the groove of things, build my endurance," Hedengren said. 

She and Peterson shared a joyful moment following the race, exchanging congratulations and wide smiles. They run together in Utah, and were genuinely happy for each other Saturday.

"I love her her with my whole heart," Hedengren said. "She's the best."

"Jane and I are like the best of friends ever since state last year," Peterson said. "We do Saturday runs together, we cool down together. So if I'm gonna lose to anyone, I'm glad it's Jane."

Idaho's reigning Gatorade Player of the Year for girls cross country, Roberts added another 'first' to her lengthy career accolades Saturday with a personal-best time. Already the only eastern Idaho girl to break the 18-minute barrier multiple times, she is now the first eastern Idaho girl to break 17:50 for the 5k.

She is also 3 for 3 with sub-18 times at Eagle Island, running 17:53.3 to win a second consecutive 4A state title last season and running 17:50.1 for third place at last season's Nike Cross Northwest Regionals. Roberts qualified for Eastbay Cross Country Nationals last season -- the first eastern Idaho girl to qualify -- and placed 25th in San Diego, but said she is working toward qualifying for Nike Cross Nationals this season.

Roberts has been particularly eager to run Bob Firman, especially since older siblings Harrison and Adria competed at the meet all four years of their Skyline careers.

"It's an awesome race," Roberts said. "It's great competition. I'm super grateful for the girls that came and participated because without them, I wouldn't have been able to do as well as I did."

Roberts' second-place finish comes three years after Lexy Halladay-Lowry won her second career Bob Firman girls elite individual title for Mountain View (Idaho). Recently married, Halladay-Lowry is now running for BYU and was on the Spring 2021 NCAA Division I women's cross country championship team. 

"I'm so grateful for everything leading up to this point," said Roberts, who took down Halladay-Lowry's all-classification state meet record with her No. 3 Idaho all-time best 10:30.63 to repeat as 4A 3,200 state champion in May. "I love kind of seeing where Lexy was and trying to get her goals."

Like Brown, Peterson also traded soccer for cross country this season. She split time between both sports before this year, winning Utah's 5A individual state title last season.

Saturday was not only a personal best time for her, but her first sub-18 time.

"I was so excited to just come and run and see what happened," Peterson said. "There really was no expectations because I've never done this before."

Helping Timpanogos to the team title provided even more excitement. The Timberwolves decided two weeks ago to compete at Bob Firman.

"Our coach took us through the course yesterday and told us what we needed to do, all our responsibilities, and we fulfilled all of those responsibilities," Peterson said.

The trip paid off in the form of a trophy, a mid-season confidence boost, and motivation for state and NXR Southwest.

"It's just a really great opportunity to be here," junior Camryn Lloyd said. "It's so cool to be here with all these amazing teams."

"It's so hype here,"  said junior Molly Walton (14th place in 18:58.3), prompting laughs from her teammates. "So fun."

Three girls teams finished with identical scores of 113, prompting tiebreakers to determine second, third and fourth place. Corner Canyon (Utah), with five top-40 finishes, took second while Boise, with five runners finishing in the top 50, took third, and Park City (Utah), with five runners also finishing in the top 40, was fourth.

One point separated two Utah teams for second and third place on the boys side. Second-place Skyridge (134 points) and third-place Farmington (135 points) each had top 50 finishes from their top five runners.

Utah had 13 of the top 20 girls finishers and 11 of the top 20 boys finishers Saturday.