RANGELY I The Panther boys’ cross country team received some extra notice on co.milesplit.com (the premier news source for Colorado high school runners) this week after finishing in second place at the Rifle Cross Country Invitational. Finishing ahead of bigger schools such as Steamboat and Grand Valley, the up-and-coming Panther program was mentioned as a top contender at the state level. Special notice was given to the performance of Dale Nielsen who finished in eighth place at the Rifle meet. The team is gearing up for the regional championships in Delta and are very encouraged by their performance at Rifle. No girls were able to represent the Panthers at the meet.
Team scores
Boys: 1. Moffat County, 31 2. Rangely, 48 3. Steamboat Springs, 54 4. Eagle Valley, 59 5. Rifle, 69 6. Glenwood Springs JV, 219 No score: Coal Ridge, Grand Valley, Meeker.
Individual top 10
Boys: 1. Alfredo Lebron, Moffat County, 16:26.86 2. Asher Rohde, Steamboat Springs, 17:09.04 3. William Scoggins, Rangely, 17:23.72 4. Jake Boesch, Meeker, 17:38.16; 5. Rene Molina, Moffat County, 17:47.95 6. Jake Statler, Rifle, 18:05.39 7. Gregg Salaz, Eagle Valley, 18:14 8. Dale Nielsen, Rangely, 18:14.85 9. Scott Powers, Steamboat Springs, 18:27.42 10. Colton Lewer, Steamboat Springs, 18:28.44.
Other notable finishes by Panther runners:
13. Tanner Nielsen 18:36; 24. Ethan Allred 19:56; 39. Mitchell Webber 21:24
47. Marshal Way 22:30