Meeker runners compete at state

MEEKER I Because of a big snowstorm on the Eastern Slope, freshmen William Scoggins and Lathrop Hughes had to wait an extra week before competing in the Colorado State Cross Country meet in Fort Collins.
“It was such a beautiful day, it’s hard to believe there were 18 inches of snow on it the previous weekend,” Meeker head coach Kris Casey said of the weather last Saturday.
Scoggins, who goes to school in Rangely, and Hughes used the extra week to get healthy, after qualifying for the state meet with the flu.
“The boys did not have their best races but still performed well,” Casey said of the state meet held at Fossil Ridge High School. “I believe there were a lot of nerves between the two of them.”
Scoggins has ran the best times on the team all season and finished the state meet in 19:28:15, while Hughes needed 20:47:75 to run the 3.1 mile course.
“This was a good time for William, but he has run faster this season,” Casey said. “Again, I think nerves played a big part in both boys’ races.
“It was nice to see the boys were healthy again, both ran much better than they did two weeks ago at regionals. It was also great to have one more runner make it to state than we did last year and even better that both are freshman,” Casey added. “This is very positive looking down the road.”