Barak Watson finishes secondin the boys race, and Nicole Nielsen takes third in the girls race at Eagle Island State Park.

BY JESSE ZENTZ - [email protected]

Columbia High runner Barak Watson continued his hot streak at Eagle Island State Park and Borah's Nicole Nielsen returned to form Saturday as the Treasure Valley duo qualified for Nike Cross Nationals (NXN) with second- and third-place finishes at the Northwest Championships.

The top two teams and top five individuals not on a qualifying team advance to NXN from nine regional meets. The Northwest region consists of teams from Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Alaska and Hawaii.

Watson led the boys race with less than 100 meters of the 5-kilometer cross country course remaining, but finished runner-up to North Central's (Spokane) Jeff Howard. Howard outleaned Watson with a winning time of 15 minutes, 27.0 seconds. Watson was second in 15:27.2.

"I looked up at the clock at the finish line to see what my time was and he took advantage," said Watson, who also won the 4A District Three and state championship meets at Eagle Island State Park on Oct. 23 and Nov. 1. "I lost my focus right at the end and that's what cost me. I just have to keep my focus all the way through the homestretch."

The mental lapse cost the senior a win, but Watson will get a chance to avenge the loss at the national championship meet Dec. 6 in Portland.

North Central won the boys team title with