Kamiakin boys take 2nd in NXR Regional, qualify for Nationals

Jonah Franco finished 11th in 15 minutes, 33.95 seconds, to lead the Kamiakin High School boys cross country club team (The Brave Souls) to a second-place finish Saturday at Eagle Island State Park in Boise against a prestigious field in the Nike Cross Northwest Regional 5,000 meter championship.

Kamiakin (ranked No. 21 Flo50 national rankings) beat Oregon schools No. 20 Crater and No. 22 Jesuit to qualify for the Nike Cross Nationals, held Dec. 2 at Glendover Golf Course in Portland. Spokane’s Central Valley (Loyal Sons of Ireland) won the meet, beating Kamiakin by 8 points.

The Braves are a week removed from claiming the WIAA 3A state team title, which snapped a run of 11 straight championships for North Central.

College Place’s Kenneth Rooks was the top local finisher at the meet, finishing sixth overall (15:24.24). Other high local finishers included Hanford’s Caleb Olson in 14th (15:35.76), Kamiakin’s Ryan Child in 20th (15:43.47) and Porter Grigg in 31st (15:53.49), and Richland’s Riley Moore in 25th (15:47.22).

This story was originally published November 12, 2017 at 5:21 PM with the headline "Kamiakin boys take 2nd in NXR Regional, qualify for Nationals."