MEEKER I The Meeker High School cross country team was in Glenwood Springs on Friday taking part in another new venue for Meeker this season.
The Demon Invitational provided plenty of strong competition as the conditions varied widely, starting on pavement, changing to gravel, moving to sidewalk, then dirt trails and finishing on the high school track.
The girls ran first at this meet with Julia Eskelson finishing 31st out of 158 runners, posting a time of 23:01.
The boys’ race had 158 competitors squaring off as well, and the Cowboys scored an eighth-place team finish.
Austin Russell led the Meeker boys’ team at the meet with an individual finish of 16th place and a time of 17:59. Marshal Pool followed with an 18:27 for 26th place, and Anthony Watt crossed the line in 57th place in 19:50, his best time this season.
Josh Cochran was our fourth finisher, turning in a time of 20:45 and taking 83rd place; and Clay Anderson and Christopher Strate placed 94th and 95th, respectively, with times of 21:15 and 21:17.
“We saw some solid running this week from our group as well as some big teams,” coach Marty Casey said. “I am looking forward to the Anna Banana Invitational (in Fruita) on Saturday. It is a very fast course, and I am excited to see what our team can do!”
Competition begins at 9:30 a.m. with the junior varsity boys’ race.
