In one of the largest and most-competitive cross-country meets in the region, the Star Valley runners showed they are among the best of anyone they will see this season.

Both the SVHS varsity teams took first place and both junior varsity squads placed second at the Cardinal Classic in Soda Springs, Idaho on Saturday afternoon. 

The Braves, who are already among the favorites to win the Wyoming 4A team title in their quest for a three-peat, won the day with a score of 74. Skyline (ID) was second with a 102 and Rigby (ID) was third with a 130.  A total of 33 teams from Idaho, Utah and Wyoming competed in the race. 

The senior duo of Habtamu Wetzel and Jase Burton placed first and second overall in the race respectively. Wetzel finished with a time of 15:50.13. Burton carded a 15:53.24. Junior Colton Cranney was sixth overall with a time of 17:03.97. Junior Brigham Hahn (17:20.14) and senior Darrell Hunting (18:52.10) rounded out the scoring five. 

The Lady Braves returned all of their scoring runners from a year ago which placed ninth at the Wyoming state meet and added some talented young athletes as well as they picked up their most significant win recent memory with a team score of 124.  Sky View (UT) was second with a 141 and host Soda Springs was third with a 156. A total of 29 teams raced in the meet. 

Sophomore Macy Kennington led the Lady Braves with a time of 21:06.48 with was good for 12th overall. While the Star Valley girls didn’t have a top-ten finisher, their entire team all ran toward the front of the pack with all five scoring athletes finishing in the top-40. Sophomore Carlee Angell (21:22.56), senior Alexis Angell (21:57.08), junior Gracey Visser (22:13.41) and sophomore Kylee Linford (22:24.34) comprised the rest of the scorers. 

The SVXC teams will compete next Friday, September 13, at the Tiger-Grizz Invite in Idaho Falls before traveling to Boise for the Bob Firman Classic on September 28. 

• JV Teams

The junior varsity Braves very nearly won their race as they came in second behind Skyline by just a single point, 61-62. 

Matthew Heywood won the race with a time of 18:44.91 with freshman Luke Harris finishing ninth with a time of 19:05.33. 

The JV girls were also second with a score of 76 behind Sky View (29) and well in front of Rigby who was third with a 92. They were led by freshman Rachel Smith who placed ninth overall with a time of 24:00.21. 

Girls Team
Star Valley  124
Sky View  141
Soda Springs  156
Madison  160
Preston  125
Skyline  203
Idaho Falls  213
Thunder Ridge  272

JV Girls
Sky View  29
Star Valley 76
Rigby  92
Preston  105
Evanston  165
Shelley  170
Skyline  209
Bear River  235
Boys Team 

Boys Team
Star Valley  74
Skyline  102
Rigby  130
South Fremont  190
Sky View  195
Century  195
Mountain View  215
Teton  225

JV Boys
Skyline  61
Star Valley  62
Rigby  75
Logan  103
Sky View  115
Idaho Falls 180
Teton  243
Preston  254