The Bob Firman Invitational cross country meet returns to fan-friendly Eagle Island State Park on Saturday and it's shaping up to be a doozy.

Schools from California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming have combined to register more than 3,000 athletes, who will race for 5 kilometers across grass, sand and packed dirt. The runners in the elite division will be competing for some of the most prestigious titles on the racing calendar in the West.

A meet schedule, past champs, top course times, a course map and helpful links are located at the bottom of this story.

Originally named the Boise City Invitational, the meet's name was changed in 1986 after legendary Borah coach Bob Firman retired. Since then, the meet has grown from a local running festival into a regional showcase.

The competition included about 1,000 competitors in 2000, grew to 1,500 runners by 2005 and doubled to more than 3,000 for this year's edition.

In the boys elite division, 2008 5A state champion Eric Fitzpatrick of Boise, 2008 5A runner-up Cody Helbling of Lake City and Conner Peloquin of Gig Harbor (Wash.) are expected be among the contenders for the individual crown. All three are seniors.

North Central (Spokane), meanwhile, will be back to defend it's team championship and was ranked 17th nationally in last week's DyeStat Elite/ESPN RISE FAB 50. Mountain View (Utah) is ranked 24th entering Bob Firman.

Fitzpatrick already has wins at the Caldwell Invitational (16:08.21) on Sept. 4 and at the Brooks XC Festival (15:50.66) in Hermiston, Ore., on Sept. 12.

Helbling claimed victories at the Bonners Ferry Invitational (16:33) on Aug. 29, the Silverwood Invitational (15:30.9) on Sept. 12 and the Farragut Invitational (16:29.5) on Sept. 19.

Peloquin has only raced the 5k distance one time this season, but he won the South Whidbey Invitational (15:42.94) in Langley, Wash., on Sept. 19.

On the girls side, the race for individual glory could feature three local runners — Eagle senior Liz Brandon, Bishop Kelly sophomore Emily Nist and Boise junior Kate Jamboretz.

All three have run well early this season.

Brandon, the 2008 5A state cross country champion, is coming off her first win of the season at Nampa's Roger Curran Cross Country Invitational on Sept. 12, where she finished in 18:42.53. She also was runner-up at the Camels Back Classic (20:25.28) on Aug. 28 and at the Caldwell Invitational (19:03.63) on Sept. 4. Brandon was the top Idaho finisher in third at last year's Bob Firman Invitational.

Nist, the 2008 4A state champion, placed sixth at Bob Firman last fall. She won BK's Jimmy Driscoll Invitational (19:16.20) on Aug. 29, placed second at the Tiger-Grizz Invitational in Idaho Falls (19:54.52) on Sept. 11 and won Meridian's Warrior Mountain Classic (20:03.0) on Sept. 19.

Jamboretz beat Brandon for the titles at the Camels Back Classic (20:12.94) and Caldwell Invitational (19:03.44), and placed second at the Brooks XC Festival (19:13.66) on Sept. 12.

The top-ranked girls team entering the meet is Mountain View (Utah), which is 42nd nationally. Based on early performances, Bishop Kelly is the top two local threats for the team title. Both top their classification rankings at IdahoXC.com. Reigning 5A state champion Mountain View (Idaho) is traveling to Portland to compete in Nike Pre-Nationals.

BOB FIRMAN INVITATIONAL SCHEDULE (tentative)

Collegiate Men, 8k — 8:50 a.m.
Collegiate Women, 5k — 9:25 a.m.
DII Varsity Boys, 5k — 10 a.m.
DI Varsity Boys, 5k — 10:30 a.m.
Elite Varsity Girls, 5k — 11 a.m.
Elite Varsity Boys, 5k — 11:30 a.m.
DII Varsity Girls, 5k — noon
DI Varsity Girls, 5k — 12:30 p.m.
JV Boys, 5k, section 1 — 1 p.m.
JV Boys, 5k, section 2 — 1:30 p.m.
JV Girls, 5k, section 1 — 2 p.m.
JV Girls, 5k, section 2 — 2:30 p.m.
9th Grade Boys, 5k — 3 p.m.
9th Grade Girls, 5k — 3:30 p.m.
Middle School Boys, 3k — 4 p.m.
Middle School Girls, 3k — 4:30 p.m.

LAST FIVE INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS

Boys
2008: Jonathon Nelson, Timpview (Utah), 15:51.88; Top Idaho runner: Barak Watson, Columbia, fourth, 16:10.21
2007: Luke Puskedra, Judge Memorial (Utah), 14:49; Top Idaho runner: Jared Nielsen, Borah, 14th, 16:14
2006: Taylor Farnsworth, Highland, 15:16.65
2005: Adam McDonald, Mountain View (Utah), 15:40.31; Top Idaho runner: Taylor Fansworth, Highland, 15:48.91
2004: Dylan Coleman, Bend (Ore.), 16:25.22; Top Idaho runner: Gary Attebury, Hillcrest, second, 16:33.25

Girls
2008: Shalaya Kipp, Skyline (Utah), 18:28.24; Top Idaho runner: Liz Brandon, Eagle, third, 18:53.76
2007: Nicole Nielsen, Borah, 18:19
2006: Candace Eddy, Davis (Utah), 18:17.28; Top Idaho runner: Amanda Palmer, Weiser, seventh, 18:46.46
2005: Dana Morgan, Boise, 18:27.86
2004: Kimber Mattox, Bend (Ore.), 18:29.52; Top Idaho runner: Hillary McClendon, Eagle, second, 19:08.57

LAST FIVE TEAM CHAMPIONS

Boys
2008: North Central (Spokane); Top Idaho team: Twin Falls, sixth
2007: Crater (Ore.); Top Idaho team: Mountain View, 14th
2006: Trabuco Hills (Calif.); Top Idaho team: Borah, second
2005: Mountain View (Utah); Top Idaho team: Boise, third
2004: Capital

Girls
2008: Davis (Utah); Top Idaho team: Mountain View, fifth
2007: Mountain Brook (Ala.); Top Idaho team: Bear Lake, seventh
2006: Gig Harbor (Wash.); Top Idaho team: Boise, third
2005: Fremont (Utah); Top Idaho team: Boise, third
2004: Mountain View

FASTEST TIMES AT EAGLE ISLAND

Boys
14:49 (2007), Luke Puskedra, Judge Memorial (Utah)
15:16.6 (2006), Taylor Farnsworth, Highland
15:27.0 (2008), Jeff Howard, North Central (Spokane)
15:27.2 (2008), Barak Watson, Columbia (Nampa)

Girls
17:58.6 (2008), Alyssa Andrews, Gig Harbor (Wash.)
18:08.3 (2008), Liz Brandon, Eagle
18:16.6 (2008), Nicole Nielsen, Borah
18:16.9 (2008), Sandra Martinez, Yakima (Wash.)

HELPFUL LINKS
Dyestat.com: Find national and regional rankings, results and stories
IdahoXC.com: Loaded with results and state rankings.
Bob Firman Invitational: Past results, course information, teams and much more.
NXN Northwest Regional: The region's top runners will be back at Eagle Island on Nov. 14.

COURSE MAP

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