Yosuke Shibata Wins Close Finish, Morgan Delaney Leads Montana Podium Sweep at Bob Firman

Four-tenths of a second separated a championship from second place at the Bob Firman Invitational.

Yosuke Shibata with South Eugene victoriously took home the winning title, clocking a 14:28 flat‚—barely holding off Miro Parr-Coffin with Gonzaga Prep in 14:28.4 at The Course Spokane Valley in Washington on Saturday.

Just 2.4 seconds separated the first three finishers, making every stride toward the finish count. Wyatt Morgenstern with Coeur D’Alene in 14:30.4.

It was Leroy Lozano Meja who took the early lead, ahead of Branlin Foote I, Stejer Franklin, Taylor Neil, Clayton Jero, Elliot Yegge, and Bjorn Blankenship—to name a few who made up the top leading pack at the gun.

Meja held the lead, then faded to third position at the 3k split just under 9 minutes in, behind Morgenstern and Parr-Coffin. Jero then made his move, moving into the lead ahead of Morgenstern and Blankenship.

However, Shibata saved his kick for when it was needed the most, the move winning him the race.

Blankenship took fourth in 14:32.3, followed by Graves in 14:36.0, Kereo in 14:38.1, Neil in 14:40.6, and Meja in 14:43.3.

Summit of Oregon took the boys’ team championship with 64 points.

The girls’ elite race featured a Montana sweep of the individual podium.

The Polson senior Morgan Delaney clocked a 10:10.0 at the 3k mark, holding a second position behind Reed Stromberg from Hellgate. Delaney made her move to take a two-second lead by the 4k split.

Stromberg was edged out by Phoebe Maixner with Bozeman who took second place in 17:15.1. Stromberg took third in 17:18.3.

Jaycee Jenkins finished fourth in 17:20.8, followed by Kirsten Ludeman in 17:22.6, and Ada Thiel in 17:26.7.

Washington’s Sehome earned the girls’ team title with 125 points.