MEEKER I Former Rangely High School graduate William Scoggins added a little time but also added another title, making him the annual Run For Your Life 5K champion for a third year in a row.
Scoggins completed the 5K, sponsored by the ERBM Recreation and Parks District, in 18:10, adding more than a minute to his winning time last year, but he still easily won the race in a field of 147 runners (75 in the men’s division).
Meeker graduate and volunteer assistant track coach Terrance Casias finished second, more than 30 seconds behind Scoggins and Collin Robinson, who won the walk last year, finished third in the run this year.
Kim Davis, 21, was the first female to cross the line, needing 21:59 to complete the course, which started and ended in downtown Meeker. Julia Eskleson (15), who will be a sophomore this fall at Meeker High School, won her age division and was the second female overall to finish.
Eskelson, who qualified for the Colorado State Cross Country Championships as a freshman, was not the only Meeker cross country teammate to do well in the 5K. Eskelson’s classmate Austin Russell had the fourth best time overall, finishing the race in 19:45.
The fastest walkers on the course were former and current Meeker High School track stars Kathryn Doll, Piper Haney and Sydney Hughes. All crossed the finished line at the same time (36:35). Doll was a two-time state triple jump champion, state long jump champion and current college track athlete; Haney was graduated this spring, was a multi-time state qualifier in three sports; and Hughes, also a multi-sport athlete and state qualifier, will be a senior this fall.
Only 34 men walked the course and 14-year-old Drew Hanks finished in a time of 38:23, 10-year-old Ryan Phelan was second and 44-year-old Joel Matrisciano, won his age division and finished third.
Dorris wins Color Run in Rangely
In Rangely, the WRBM Recreation and Parks District sponsors a 5K Color Run, with proceeds benefiting the New Eden Pregnancy Center.
Rangely’s Andrew Dorris won the race, completing the 5K in 30:34, in a field of 89 entries, almost 20 more particpants than last year.