Shadow Ridge claims 5A Southern Region cross country titles — PHOTOS

Elynn Okuda of Shadow Ridge crosses the finish line during the 5A Southern girls cross country region meet at Veterans Memorial Park, on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Boulder City. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

Kenan Dagge of Desert Oasis crosses the finish line during the 5A Southern Region boys cross country meet at Veterans Memorial Park, on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Boulder City. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

Vianey Toledo of Clark High crosses the finish line during the 4A Mountain girls cross country region meet at Veterans Memorial Park, on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Boulder City. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

Michael O'Dea fires the starter pistol for the runners of the 4A Mountain girls cross country meet at Veterans Memorial Park, on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Boulder City. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

Fans watch the 5A Southern Region boys cross country meet at Veterans Memorial Park, on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Boulder City. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

Clark High School runners pray before participating in the 4A Mountain boys cross country meet at Veterans Memorial Park, on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Boulder City. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

Runners of the 5A Southern Region boys cross country meet take off at Veterans Memorial Park, on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Boulder City. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

Runners of the 4A Mountain boys cross country meet take off at Veterans Memorial Park, on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Boulder City. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

Myles Oliver of Silverado crosses the finish line during the 4A Mountain boys cross country meet at Veterans Memorial Park, on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Boulder City. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

Runners of the 4A Mountain girls cross country meet compete at Veterans Memorial Park, on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Boulder City. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

Emmanuel Salinas of Rancho crosses the finish line during the 4A Desert boys cross country meet at Veterans Memorial Park, on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Boulder City. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

The 5A Southern Region boys cross country meet winners Kenan Dagge of Desert Oasis, center, Carson Wetzel, left, and Justin Rawe, right, both of Shadow Ridge, pose for a photo at Veterans Memorial Park, on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Boulder City. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

(Left to right) The 5A Southern Region boys cross country meet winners Andrew Poirier of Green Valley, Kingston Lueck of Centennial, Carson Wetzel of Shadow Ridge, Kenan Dagge of Desert Oasis, Justin Rawe of Shadow Ridge, Brady Anderson of Faith Lutheran and Randin Patty of Centennial pose for a photo at Veterans Memorial Park, on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Boulder City. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

(Left to right) The 5A Southern Region girls cross country meet winners Brooke-Lynne Miller of Coronado, Ryen Hughes of Shadow Ridge, Gabriella Martinez of Bishop Gorman, Elynn Okuda of Shadow Ridge, Scarlett Cotrone of Faith Lutheran, Ava Stosich of Shadow Ridge and MaryJane Gutierrez-Hess of Green Valley pose for a photo at Veterans Memorial Park, on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Boulder City. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

Shadow Ridge High School runners pose for a photo after winning the 5A Southern Region girls cross country championship at Veterans Memorial Park, on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Boulder City. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

(Left to right) The 4A Desert girls cross country region meet winners Samantha Hulet, Olivia Wheeler, Ella Christensen, Mackenzie Teel, Lacy Tippetts, Mackenzie McClain, all of Somerset Academy Sky Pointe, and Reese LeBaron of Rancho pose for a photo at Veterans Memorial Park, on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Boulder City. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

(Left to right) The 4A Desert boys cross country region meet winners Allen Gibson of Basic, Ryan Petty and Jack Medina, both of Somerset Academy Sky Pointe, Emmanuel Salinas of Rancho, Grant Petty of Somerset Academy Sky Pointe, Jacob Martin of of Sierra Vista, and Kayleb McClain of Somerset Academy Sky Pointe pose for a photo at Veterans Memorial Park, on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Boulder City. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

(Left to right) The 4A Mountain girls cross country region meet winners Selina Leopard of Clark, Yalitzi Muro of Western, Isabella Gonzalez of Silverado, Vianey Toledo of Clark, Evangeline Gladden of Clark, Elizabeth Neumann of Silverado and Iris Martinez of Western pose for a photo at Veterans Memorial Park, on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Boulder City. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

Somerset Academy Sky Pointe runners pose for a photo after winning the 4A Desert boys cross country championship at Veterans Memorial Park, on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Boulder City. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

Kenan Dagge of Desert Oasis approaches the finish line during the 5A Southern boys cross country region meet at Veterans Memorial Park, on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Boulder City. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

Fans watch the 5A Southern boys cross country region meet at Veterans Memorial Park, on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Boulder City. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

Kenan Dagge of Desert Oasis, left, and Brady Anderson of Faith Lutheran lead the pack during the 5A Southern boys cross country region meet at Veterans Memorial Park, on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Boulder City. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

Mackenzie Teel, right, and Ella Christensen, both of Somerset Academy Sky Pointe, celebrate after crossing the finish line during the 4A Desert girls cross country region meet at Veterans Memorial Park, on Friday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Boulder City. Teel finished 1st and Christensen finished 2nd. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

Craig Ross of Basic, right, approaches the finish line ahead of Henry Johnson of Pinecrest Academy Cadence during the 4A Desert boys cross country region meet at Veterans Memorial Park, on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Boulder City. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bizutesfaye

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By Jeff Wollard Las Vegas Review-Journal

October 25, 2024 - 5:23 pm

Updated October 26, 2024 - 12:18 am

Shadow Ridge girls cross country coach Mark Jimenez already had a good feeling about his team’s chances before Friday’s Class 5A Southern Region cross country meet.

Midway through the race, he realized that things were even better than he thought.

The Mustangs dominated on their way to the team title, and standout Elynn Okuda used a late surge to take the individual championship at Veterans Memorial Park in Boulder City.

Shadow Ridge finished with 46 points as a team, followed by Coronado (85), Bishop Gorman (96), Palo Verde (114) and Arbor View (114). All five will compete in the state meet Nov. 2 at Veterans Memorial Park.

Okuda covered the 5-kilometer course in 19 minutes, 17 seconds, for the victory, nine seconds ahead of Bishop Gorman’s Gabriella Martinez. Faith Lutheran’s Scarlett Cotrone was third in 19:38.

“We knew that Elynn had a great shot to win this race,” said Jimenez, who noted that Okuda trailed Martinez by nine seconds midway through the race. “She ran one heck of a last mile. When I saw her come by at the 2-mile mark, I saw the determination on her face, and I knew she was going to get it.”

The win was redemption for Shadow Ridge, which finished second to Bishop Gorman last year.

5A boys

The Mustangs also won the boys race, with top runner Carson Wetzel finishing second.

Coach Andy Flynn said he also had good vibes heading into the event.

“Usually I feel pretty nervous before races like this, but today I felt that the guys were ready,” said Flynn, whose team also won the event last year. “We just told them to go out and do what they knew how to do.”

The Mustangs finished with 45 points, followed by Green Valley (70), Desert Oasis (81), Bishop Gorman (97) and Centennial (122). All five will compete in the state meet Nov. 2 at Veterans Memorial Park.

Kenan Dagge of Desert Oasis won the 5K race in 15:54. Wetzel, last year’s winner, finished in second at 16:04, and the Mustangs’ Justin Rawe was third in 16:05.

4A girls

Sky Pointe continued its dominant season by sweeping the top six spots in the Desert League meet at Veterans Memorial Park.

The Eagles scored the minimum 15 points for the win, followed by Sierra Vista (69), Cadence (92) and Rancho (101). All four will compete in the state meet Nov. 2 at Veterans Memorial Park.

Sky Pointe’s Mackenzie Teel covered the 5K course in 20:10 for the individual victory, followed by teammates Ella Christensen (20:20) and Lacy Tippetts (20:40).

In the Mountain League race, Clark scored 34 points to win the team title, followed by Western (47), Silverado (82) and Tech (107). All four will compete in the state meet.

Clark’s Vianey Toledo finished the 5K race in 20:39 for the individual win, followed by Silverado’s Isabella Gonzalez (21:44) and Clark’s Evangeline Gladden (21:51).

4A boys

Sky Pointe won the Desert League team title with 24 points, followed by Basic (67), Sierra Vista (77) and Rancho (85). All four advance to the state meet Nov. 2 at Veterans Memorial Park.

Rancho’s Emmanuel Salinas covered the 5K course in 16:31 for the individual title, followed by the Sky Pointe duo of Jack Medina (16:44) and Grant Petty (17:39).

In the Mountain League race, Tech scored 39 points to win the team title, followed by Clark (47), Western (74) and Silverado (92). All four advance to the state meet.

Silverado’s Myles Oliver finished the 5K course in 17:17 for the individual victory, followed by the Tech duo of Justin Montoya (17:34) and Caden Gwerder (17:43).

3A girls

Losee scored 30 points to win the Southern Region team title at Veterans Memorial Park. Pahrump Valley (35), Moapa Valley (77) and Virgin Valley (82) also qualified for the state meet Nov. 2 at Veterans Memorial Park.

Coral Academy’s Teegan LeBroke won the 5K race in 22:07.

3A boys

Moapa Valley scored 29 points to claim the Southern Region title at Veterans Memorial Park. Virgin Valley (57), Pahrump Valley (78) and Coral Academy (110) also qualified for the state meet Nov. 2 at Veterans Memorial Park.

Moapa’s Mordechai Yadegar won the 5K race in 16:18.

Contact Jeff Wollard at jwollard@reviewjournal.com.