Highest Ranked Individuals In Midwest Win Eastbay Regional Titles

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Photos by Kevin Dorsey 

A pair of venerated seniors named Riley made long-awaited returns to UW-Parkside in Kenosha, Wis. and earned their spots on the starting line at the Eastbay Cross Country Championships on Dec. 11 in San Diego. 

Riley Hough (US#3), the two-time Michigan Division 1 state champion, was a sophomore when the Midwest regional was held in 2019 and he placed 19th. Since then he has become of the best runners in state history. He won the boys race in 14:49.5. 

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LIST OF NATIONAL QUALIFIERS

Riley Stewart (US#4), the three-time Colorado Class 5A champion, was a potential four-year qualifier for nationals if not for the 2020 cancellation. But she won the girls regional to book her third trip, where she can aim to improve on her 17th-place finish in the 2019 final. 

Stewart won by 16 seconds in 16:54.4. 

The top 10 finishers in the boys and girls championship races Saturday qualified to compete in the national finals, renamed for Eastbay after decades of being known as Foot Locker. 

Hough was joined on the Midwest team by runner-up Izaiah Steury, the 2020 Indiana state champion, and third-place finisher Zane Bergen, the Colorado Class 4A champion. Michigan will be well-represented with five qualifiers, including fifth-place finisher Hunter Jones of Benzie Central High, the three-time Division 3 state champion. 

Nike Cross Heartland champion Gabe Hinrichs of Elkhorn, Neb. placed sixth. 

Stewart was followed by the Nike Cross Heartland girls champion, Ali Weimer of St. Michael, Minn., second in 17:11.2.

Indiana will send three girls to the finals and none of them won this year's state championship race. Sophia Kennedy (third), Karina James (eighth) and Gretchen Farley (ninth) will join two boys -- Steury and Kole Mathison -- for the Hoosier state.