Aspen, Colorado, is one of the state’s most famous cities. The city’s beautiful mountain ranges, world class skiing and outdoor recreation, and lovely downtown make it a dream come true. Unless, of course, you are a cross country athlete competing in the Chris Severy Invitational. The perfect dream of Aspen turns into a nightmare, where runners race over three miles on the slopes of a mountain with misleading footing. Aspen is notoriously the toughest cross country course in Colorado, and possibly the country, where athletes struggle to run within two to three minutes of their typical times. However, the Rangely Panthers braved the grueling mountain and came home better for it.
James Talbot has started to form the habit of running at the front of races, a feat much harder, especially on this course, than it sounds. Talbot finished second overall in 19:41 to lead the Panthers. Andrew Dorris was next across the line, fighting his way to a 28th place finish in 22:35. Kevin Wren was just five places back in 33rd as he crossed in 23:00. Anthony Dorris was close as well as he placed 39th in 23:16. Fisher Winder rounded out the scoring five for the Panthers when he came through in 23:41 to finish 43rd. The Panthers placed sixth as a team.
Joseph Valdez, Justin Allred, Logan Peterson, and Gage Nielsen all gutted through the race as well. Valdez, a freshman, ran an impressive 24:48 in his first experience of the course. Allred was next in 26:06, followed by Peterson in 28:11 and Nielsen in 29:17.
Macy Morgan was the only high school girl competing this week, but that didn’t stop her from giving it her best. Morgan completed the race inside the top 50, placing 46th as she ran a time of 31:08. Morgan, however, wasn’t the only girl to compete for the Panthers. Taya Wren again tagged along with the Panthers to compete in the middle school race. Wren completed the 3-kilometer race in 18:36 and finished eighth.
“Everyone competed so valiantly this weekend,” said head coach Beth Scoggins. “This is such a tough course, but also a really great experience. It’s a great chance to give our kids one last look at a really hard, tough race so that when they get to the hills on the state course they’re confident in themselves and their legs to just keep charging.”
The Panthers have just one last regular season race at the Whistle Pig Invitational next week at the Yampa Valley Golf Course in Craig, Colorado.
Special to the Herald Times
