Senior Roybal will lead MHS cross­ country

MEEKER I Meeker High School cross country team head coach Kris Casey is looking forward to working with one senior and several younger runners this season.
“We haven’t started pushing them too hard yet,” Casey said of the first week of practice. “They are young and concerned about a three-mile race, but we are getting them in shape. Hopefully they’ll be comfortable in the first meet.”
Senior Erica Roybal is the only runner returning from last year’s team, which featured one state qualifier (Terrance Casias, who graduated last spring). Roybal will be joined by two freshman girls and the boys’ team will feature one sophomore and three freshmen, including one from Rangely, since the Panthers will not have a cross country team this year.
Sophomore Ean Barrow, along with freshmen Savanah Johnson and Perye Walter will practice with classmates Lathrop Hughes and Alex Smith and William Scoggins from Rangely. Hughes and Smith are also playing football.
“Erica was a good runner for us last year before getting shin splints,” Casey said. “I’m excited to see how everyone does in the first meet. We’ll set some individual goals after that.”
Meeker will open the season in Delta Saturday and will compete in several meets before the state-qualifying regional meet Sept. 24. Meeker will not have a home meet this year.
“With all the construction going on, we’re going to wait until next year then design a course that goes around all the schools and rec center,” Casey said.
“I’m looking forward to the season,” Casey said. “Hopefully everyone stays healthy and we qualify a few kids for the state meet.”