EAGLE — The group came through for Coeur d’Alene again at Eagle Island State Park on Saturday. 

This time, with another state title in the books, they get a chance to compete among the best of the best. 

Senior Max Cervi-Skinner paced Cd’A Distance with a ninth-place finish in the Nike Northwest cross country meet at Eagle Island State Park, clinching a berth to nationals on Dec. 7 in Portland. 

“It’s just a great group of kids,” CDA Distance and Coeur d’Alene High cross country coach Emry Carr said. “They’re highly motivated and it’s been a goal from the time we had camp in the summer to get back there. The boys just made it come to friution today.” 

Cervi-Skinner finished the 5K boys championship race in 15 minutes, 2.7 seconds. Senior Zack Cervi-Skinner was 12th in 15:15.2, and sophomore Wyatt Carr 17th in 15:22.1. 

Coeur d'Alene is ranked 12th nationally by DyeStat.com.

Junior Mitchell Rietze (15:52.3), freshman Rowan Henry (16:00.1), freshman Wyatt Morgenstern (16:06.4) and sophomore Gabe Heule (16:06.7) rounded out the squad, which finished with 88 points. Stumpton XC, the Jesuit (Ore.) High squad, also qualified for nationals by finishing runner-up with 153 points. 

Jesuit is ranked 16th nationally.

“Max didn’t have his best day, but he’s still right there with the best in the northwest,” Emry Carr said. “Mitchell, Rowan and Gabe ran so well as a group that we still finished really well.” 

Coeur d’Alene junior Olivia May finished the girls championship race in 19:12.6. 

Lakeland High athletes, competing as Rathdrum Warm-Up Warriors, ran in the Open race, with sophomore Parker Sterling (17:09.4), sophomore Frank McCarthy (17:12.2) and junior Charlie Mattila (17:40.8) as finishers. 

Lake City senior Hazel Kunkel was 10th in the girls open in 18:59.1. 

Lake City senior Logan Anderson was 44th in the boys open, finishing in 16:28.5.