LC State Inks Trio of Top High School Runners

New recruits Taylor Dawson, Paul Kent, and Zion Boyd to join cross country and track teams.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Lewis-Clark State College has signed three talented high school runners - Taylor Dawson from Boise, Idaho, Paul Kent from Sandpoint, Idaho, and Zion Boyd from Enterprise, Oregon - to join their cross country and track and field programs for the 2026-27 school year. The trio are expected to make an immediate impact and help continue the school's strong running tradition.

Why it matters

Recruiting top high school talent is crucial for LC State's continued success in cross country and track, as the teams lost a large number of senior graduates. These three new recruits will help fill key roles and provide depth across sprints, distance, and cross country events.

The details

Taylor Dawson, a senior at Centennial High School in Boise, competes in sprints with a focus on the 400m. She ranks among the top 10 in school history in the 200m, 100m, and 400m. Paul Kent, a senior at Sandpoint High School, will join the men's cross country team. He ranks among the top 6 in school history in the 5k, 3200m, and 1600m, and was a multiple-time district champion. Zion Boyd, a senior at Enterprise High School in Oregon, will bolster the women's cross country team. She has a personal best 5k time of 19:11, which ranks 4th in school history, and has helped her team to three straight second-place finishes at the state meet.

  • Dawson, Kent, and Boyd will join the LC State programs for the 2026-27 school year.

The players

Taylor Dawson

A senior at Centennial High School in Boise, Idaho who competes in sprints with a focus on the 400m. She ranks among the top 10 in school history in the 200m, 100m, and 400m.

Paul Kent

A senior at Sandpoint High School in Idaho who will join the men's cross country team. He ranks among the top 6 in school history in the 5k, 3200m, and 1600m, and was a multiple-time district champion.

Zion Boyd

A senior at Enterprise High School in Oregon who will join the women's cross country team. She has a personal best 5k time of 19:11, which ranks 4th in school history, and has helped her team to three straight second-place finishes at the state meet.

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What they’re saying

“We are thrilled to announce the addition of these three to our Warrior family. All three are regional student-athletes and fit the mold of what has made us successful over the years and we have every reason to believe all three will continue to do so.”

— Mike Collins, Coach (dailyfly.com)

“On the track side of things, Taylor will come in and help to fill some holes that are going to open up as a pretty talented group of seniors is set to graduate this year. She has some big shoes to fill, but she has already shown she is quite capable and is very motivated to do so.”

— Mike Collins, Coach (dailyfly.com)

“We believe Paul will surprise a lot of people. He had a standout year as a sophomore but then was set back his junior year with injuries and is just now getting back on track. He melded well with the guys on his visit, and I have no doubt he will excel in our environment here.”

— Mike Collins, Coach (dailyfly.com)

“Both Paul and Zion will be coming into a cross country program that lost a large number of senior graduates on both the men's and women's teams, so their talents will be needed right away to help ensure that the tradition that has been held here for so long continues.”

— Mike Collins, Coach (dailyfly.com)

The takeaway

LC State's continued recruiting success in bringing in top regional talent like Taylor Dawson, Paul Kent, and Zion Boyd will be crucial for maintaining the school's strong tradition in cross country and track and field. These three athletes are expected to make an immediate impact and help fill key roles left by graduating seniors.