Trevor Gabbard will carry the Bayfield High School cross country flag at the state meet next weekend.

The junior was the only Wolverine to qualify at the Class 3A Region 1 meet Friday at Confluence Park in Delta. He finished second in the individual boys race in 16 minutes, 30 seconds.

Basalt’s Zach Walsh won the individual race in 16:26.

Gabbard was the two-time defending regional champion, but he and his coaching staff decided it would be better to save himself for a run at a state title next weekend.

“We knew that was important to him, but next week is really what’s the most important,” BHS head coach Josh Walton said. “How we approached this week was for him to hang with the No. 1 for the entire race, if he can go out and win it late, great. Taking second place this weekend didn’t really bother us, because him saving himself a little bit for next week is what we need him to do.”

BHS finished seventh as a boys team with 138 points, while Gunnison won the meet with 58 points.

Trevor Knight just missed the cut for individual qualification, finishing 21st in 18:02 for the Wolverines.

Sloan Mazur took 27th for BHS in 18:25, Bryan Gram was 49th in 19:46, and Joey Sandrey finished 56th in a personal-best 20:18.

The Wolverines only ran two girls because of injuries, and Rachel Cooper, an Ignacio High School student that runs for BHS because IHS doesn’t have a cross country program, just missed individual qualification in 18th at 21:48.

Amber Johnson took 40th in 24:44 for BHS.

Basalt’s Hailey Swirbul won the girls race in 19:19.

Moffat County won the girls meet with 34 points.

heraldsports@ durangoherald.com