This past weekend the Meeker High School Cross country team opened their 2026 season in Grand Junction, Colorado at Los Colonias Park for the Central’s Warrior Invitational, with the Cowboys boys team finishing fourth in team scoring and several runners opening the season with personal records.
That morning the Cowboys ran under overcast skies and an occasional light sprinkle which helped keep temperatures mild for the varsity races.
Sophomore Landon Damitz led the Cowboys in the boys 5K, finishing 19th overall with a time of 17 minutes, 51 seconds. Junior Bradley Conrado finished just one second behind Damitz in 17:52 for 21st place.
Junior Ryan Hanberg was Meeker’s third finisher, placing 27th in 18:35. Junior Ashton Tapia finished 67th in 21:20, while sophomore Jackson Steele rounded out the varsity team in 73rd with a time of 21:46.
The Cowboys finished fourth in team scoring in the 5K.
For Damitz, the season opener marked a significant improvement from last season. He recorded a one-minute personal record and finished ahead of Conrado and Hanberg, two runners who have traditionally led the Cowboys.
“I think for my first race that was very excellent,” Damitz said. “I got a minute PR and beat my two teammates Brad and Ryan, who usually lead the Meeker Cross Country team.”
Damitz said the race showed him the importance of pushing himself early.
“I learned that if I really take it out and push that first mile to a limit, that I can improve my time to so much more,” he said.
His summer training also played a role in his improved fitness.
“I also feel like my fitness level was good because I grew a minute faster from last season and I was in shape just because I put in the miles during the summer,” Damitz said.
After seeing the improvement in his first race, Damitz has set an ambitious goal for his sophomore season.
“What I’m hoping to accomplish this year is to break the school record for the 5K,” he said. “Although it is a hard goal to achieve in my sophomore year, I like to set my goal standards high.”
Damitz also sees the team’s pack running as an important part of reaching its goals.
“It is important to work as a pack within our team because I feel I like to be very competitive with my teammates,” he said. “I always try and strive to be the best on the team and having teammates that can pack run with me at my level can greatly influence that.”
Head Coach Marty Casey was pleased with the opening performances from the Cowboys and said the team’s summer work is already beginning to show.
“We knew this was a flat and fast course, and we saw some great performances,” Casey said. “The boys have worked hard this summer, and are seeing the benefits.”
Casey said both Damitz and Conrado posted personal records, while Hanberg also made a significant improvement from last season.
“Landon and Brad were both sub-18:00 for the first meet, and Ryan was a minute faster than last year,” Casey said. “Ashton and Jackson also looked good.”
Casey expects the trio of Damitz, Conrado and Hanberg to continue pushing each other throughout the season, while Tapia and Steele look to contribute more to the team’s scoring as the year progresses.
“Ryan said he felt a bit tired from the early season workouts, but I expect to see those three racing well together throughout the season,” Casey said. “Ashton and Jackson are both excited to step up and help with the team scoring, and are ready to work.”
On the girls side, sophomore Tinlie Strate made her cross country debut in the varsity 5K, finishing 39th in 24:59.
In the junior varsity races, junior Asa Sittinghawk Scofield finished the 2.5K course 30th in 14:32, followed by junior Lucas Robinson in 31st at 16:33. Junior Abigail Amick finished the same course in 17:24 for 30th place.
The Cowboys will return to competition Saturday at Maloit Park in Minturn for the Battle Mountain Husky Invitational. Casey said Meeker has not competed at the course previously but is looking forward to the new challenge.
“We have not been to the meet in Minturn, but I understand it to be a flowy trail race,” Casey said. “We are excited to try something new.”
Races are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.
Meeker’s boys varsity cross country team poses after the Central Warrior Invitational in Grand Junction. From left are Bradley Conrado, Ashton Tapia, Jackson Steele, Landon Damitz and Ryan Hanberg.
