Delta cross country race one of ‘mental endurance’

RANGELY | The Rangely cross country team adventured to the first ever Devil’s Thumb Hill race in Delta, Colo., on Friday, Sept. 1. It was not a race for time but a race of mental endurance: who could keep going when it was tempting to stop since your legs were barely moving even when off the hill. At the base of the hill the runners were at 5,270 feet of elevation and by the time they got to the top they climbed more than 500 feet in less than a 1.5 miles. It was a steep and memorable run for everyone.
Patrick Scoggins was able to take second place with a time of 23:01. Nick Miers finished with a time of 36:17, followed by Cameron Filfred with a time of 37:22. Raelynn Norman was able to finish the course with a time of 36:43 and Chloe Filfred had a time of 45:52.
After the high school athletes ran the Rangely Junior High runners toed the line for a shorter race but still headed up the hill. Colton Noel took off well and finished well, completing the course with a time of 35:20. Norrah Patch then crossed the finish line with a time of 45:38. Mace Morgan had a time of 55:59 followed by Brooke Filfred with a time of 1:13.23.
“I am really proud of all the athletes who completed this weekend, it would have been really easy to have just given up but they pressed through until the end,” said coach Beth Scoggins.
The high school team will be traveling to Joe Vigil Open in Alamosa, Colo., next weekend on Saturday. The junior high team will have the weekend off but will be back at it the following weekend.