MEEKER | The Meeker High School and Barone Middle School cross country teams raced Saturday at the Eagle Valley Invitational, hosted at the Siena Valley Club in Gypsum.
Barone Middle School fielded four runners in the 3K race. Arionah Gutierrez led the group with a 31st-place finish in 15 minutes, 40 seconds. Gracelyn Walker and Jayna Damitz ran side by side, finishing 57th and 58th in 18:29 and 18:30. Jaylyn Tatum made her season debut, placing 74th in 20:20.
MHS senior Haylee Steele represented Meeker in the girls race, finishing 146th out of 205 runners with a time of 28:31.
The boys placed 15th in team scoring. Sophomore Bradley Conrado paced the team with a 67th-place finish in 20:17. Freshman Landon Damitz had a breakout race, setting a personal record of 20:27 for 74th place. Sophomore Ryan Hanberg was Meeker’s third scorer, finishing 82nd in 20:41. His brother, senior Cameron Hanberg, crossed in 100th at 21:19.
Sophomore Ashton Tapia rounded out the team scoring in 138th at 22:49. Sophomore Asa Scofield set a personal record of 31:11 for 212th, and senior Remy Broussard followed in 213th at 31:18.
Head coach Marty Casey said he was encouraged by the team’s effort and progress. “We had another weekend of good weather and great competition,” Casey said. “Bradley had a solid performance, and Landon really stepped it up this week.”
The Cowboys return to competition Friday morning at the Coal Ridge Invitational, held at VIX Park in New Castle. Middle school races begin at 8 a.m., followed by the high school girls at 9 a.m. and the boys at 9:45 a.m.
