RANGELY | The Rangely Cross Country team had its first meet of the season on Saturday, Aug. 24 at the Basalt Longhorn Invitational. The team was made up of five girls and three boys for this meet. The girls placed sixth as a team out of 11 different schools; the boys were one runner short of making a full team. The Basalt Longhorn Invitational is held at Crown Mountain Park in El Jebel, Colorado. The course is made up dirt trails, creek crossing and some pavement.
“I was pleased with how everyone raced this weekend with only two weeks of practice. I feel that we have some potential and we will be a team to out for in the weeks to come,” said Coach Beth Scoggins.
The girls’ team includes two seniors, two sophomores and one freshman. Mary Scoggins, sophomore, was the first Rangely girl to cross the line in 14th place with a time of 22:43.00. Hannah Wilkie, senior, came in 17th with a time of 23:15.10. Next to cross the line for the Panthers was senior Chloe Filfred in 52nd with a time of 28:45. Ammie Vaughn, sophomore and first year runner, came in 54th with a time of 29:28. Freshman Rylee Allred came in 65th with a time of 35:34.30.
On the boys’ side the team is made up of one sophomore and two freshmen. “The team is very young, but they are working hard and will be getting better each meet, as they learn to run the race and learn how to work together,” said Coach Scoggins.
Colton Noel, sophomore, was the first one to cross the line with a time of 21:25.50 for a 23rd place. Freshmen Andrew Dorris and Fisher Winder found themselves side by side during much of the race and had a sprint to the finish with Dorris taking 61st and Winder 62nd. Dorris finished with a time of 25:53 while Winder’s time was 25:54.
The cross country team is taking next weekend off but will be in Hotchkiss on Saturday, Sept. 7 for their next meet.
The Rangely Junior High cross country team has grown in size this year, with a total of eight runners—one girl and seven boys. At their first meet on Saturday, Aug. 24 at the Basalt Longhorn Invitational they were able to run six of their runners. The junior high cross country race was a distance of 1.75 miles and ran on dirt trails, through a creek and some pavement. All the junior high runners ran together but they divided the girls out from the boys.
Eighth grader Macy Morgan took 15th out of the girls’ division. She was able to take a minute and forty seconds off her time last year at the same meet for a time of 15:02. Justin Allred, eighth grader, was the first one to cross the line for the boys taking 14th place for a time of 12:30.40; one minute and 19 seconds faster than last year. Sixth grader Spenser Polley wasn’t that far behind, taking 18th place with a team of 13:48. Rangely had the next three finishers with James Talbot (7th) taking 21st place, with a time of 16:23; Joseph Doza (6th) 22nd place with a time of 16:44 and Matthew Morgan (6th) 23rd place, time 16:46.
The junior high team will take next weekend off, then will run in Hotchkiss on Saturday, Sept. 7.
Special to the Herald Times
