The Dragon Cross County team has been chasing a dream for years, a dream of becoming the District Champion team in both the men’s and women’s division.  The competition at the district meet has been challenging with fast, strategic and powerful racers.  The Soda Springs teams dominated the district, placing in the top two spots for more than a decade.  But after the 5th District 3A XC meet results were tallied Wednesday, October 22, it was the Malad Dragon team that was crowned victorious, ending the long Cardinal reign.

Five years ago, the Dragons came in last place for both the men and women teams, and since then have been working to change their story.  Slowly their times became faster, their scores improved and they pushed the competition in new ways.  In 2023, the MHS men’s team pulled ahead of the Soda Springs team to win the district meet, winning 29-47.  They team repeated the feat in 2024, the young team now having gained crucial experience.  In a similar way, the MHS women’s team made great strides to improve over the season to finally reach the goal to outrun the Cardinal team.  

The final district meet of the 2025 season was held in Soda Springs on the challenging trails at Kelly Park.  Having had ample experience running the course, the Dragon XC team was well prepared for what it would take to win the race.  The MHS women’s team lined up at 3 pm to begin the day’s races.  

Knowing they would have to jump to an early start on the narrow course but reserve enough strength and stamina for Heartbreak hill, the Lady Dragons took off to the head of the pack.  Despite the burn of their screaming muscles, the team pushed past the discomfort to outpace most of the competition for the 5K race.  

Aezlyn Summers led the MHS pack, finishing second with a time of 20:58.70, just 9 seconds behind first place.  Kaycee Venable followed close behind in third place.  The three final racers that would contribute to the team score cross the finish line in succession, beginning with Ellie Angell in sixth place, Kallie Talbot in seventh place, and Brielle Bastian in eighth.  With their top five runners placing in the Top 10, it was no surprise that the Lady Dragons were announced as the 2025 champion team.

Following the women’s race, the 3A men followed.  Malad’s Boston Burbidge outshown the competition as he placed first and claimed the district title with a time of 16:47.11.  Less than a minute later, Jace Nalder and Levi Angell finished the race.  Braun Nalder slipped in at ninth place with Carter Smith rounding out Malad’s scoring racers.  The team tallied 30 points, 18 points ahead of Soda Springs in second place.

Celebrating the incredible accomplishment and the achievement of such a big dream, Head Coach Tia Talbot shared, “It was an awesome day and race!! I know I say it every week, but I’m just so dang proud of ‘em!  I don’t know if there are other words to describe it. I get goosebumps every time I think about it! 

“They’ve really worked so hard, been so committed and come together as a team. I feel like they’re running for each other as much as themselves. It just feels so good!! State is gonna be tight, but they’ve got what it takes!”

Both MHS teams will compete at the IHSAA State XC Championship held Saturday, November 1 in Lewiston, Idaho.  The race schedule places the Lady Dragons on the starting line at 1 pm and the men’s team to follow at 2 pm.