RANGELY | The high school cross country team kicked off the season by traveling to Basalt to participate in the Longhorn Cross Country Invitational this past Saturday competing with nine other teams including Caprock, Soroco and West Grand. With a fast, if not rough 5K (3.1 miles) in front of them, the top three girls decided to kick things off as a pack and senior RaeLynn Norman, junior Chloe Filfred and freshman Mary Scoggins all finished their first mile within seconds of each other. Things spread out little from there as the course had two water crossings, transitions from dirt, to gravel, to grass and to cement which worked on the legs.
While Norman and Scoggins were able to stick together for much of the race; Scoggins pulled away on the home stretch to take 12th place with a time of 22:52. Norman, still working through an injury, was just 32 seconds behind with a time of 23:24 and finished in 17th place. Filfred took 31st place with a time of 25:43.
Coach Scoggins was excited for the team stating, “I believe that Filfred will be up there with the other girls in no time and our girls’ team will be contending for a state spot.”
Freshman Brooke Filfred is struggling with injuries but will join the team along with freshman Aliyah Jackson for their next competition scheduled for Sept. 9 in Hotchkiss.
The boys’ team only had the two freshmen running at the meet this weekend. Without the senior leadership the boys were a little cautious at the start but found their stride and Colton
Noel ended up 43rd place with a time of 23:51 and was followed by Timothy Scoggins who finished 53rd and a time of 24:32.
“I believe that in no time their times will be dropping as they get stronger and more confident about how to race the 5k.” said coach Scoggins.
The cross country team competes in the 2A Region 4 which is made up of Caprock Academy, Colorado Rocky Mountain School, Crested Butte Community, DeBeque, Dolores, Hotchkiss, Ignacio, Mancos, Meeker, Ouray, Paonia, Soroco, Telluride and West Grand. The top five teams at the regional championship will make it to state.
Special to the Herald Times
