Meeker cross country runs back to back meets

MEEKER | The Meeker cross country team was busy this past weekend, with meets on Friday and Saturday. The squad first made the trip to Delta for the Sweitzer Lake Invitational. The girls started the day and Julia Eskelson took third place in 21 flat. Lacey Ford crossed the line in 26:36 for 25th place. On the boys’ side, Austin Russell led the field to the finish, winning the race and achieving a new personal record of 16:28. Tannen Kennedy had a strong finish in 19:06 for 23rd place. Pake Burke and Clay Anderson continue to push each other, placing 36th and 37th, and 20:26 and 20:27. Christopher Strate was next to the finish in 22:18, for 46th place. Alex Murray was 56th to cross the line at 25:40. Josh Dinwiddie finished in 29:52 for 59th place and Zach Harman finished 61st, in 35:01. Saturday found the Meeker team in Craig for the Moffat County Invitational held at Loudy-Simpson Park. The girls ran first once again and Eskelson had a great start to go with her solid fourth place finish in 21:20. Ford crossed the line in 28:07, good for 24th place. The boys’ race followed, and Russell ran a 17:34 for third place. Meeker’s second was Kennedy in 12th place at 20:09. Cochran ran the course in 20:54 for 18th place. Burke was Meeker’s fourth scorer in 24th place with 21:37. Anderson was close behind, at 21:49 and 26th. Strate was next for Meeker, earning 38th place at 24:08. Murray and Dinwiddie were 52nd and 53rd, both with times of 31:15. Harman completed the race in 34:28 and 53rd place. The boys took third place as a team. “Back-to-back race days is a tough weekend and I am very proud of everyone,” said head coach Marty Casey. “I really appreciate the effort we saw from every member of the team.” Meeker will be in Aspen this Saturday with JV races beginning at 9:30 a.m.