Last Saturday, the Mancos cross-country teams competed at the Ancient Trails Invitational at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds, along with seven other teams.
The 5-kilometer event was hosted by Montezuma-Cortez High School.
For the Lady Bluejays, Rachel Beverlin led the way with an eighth-place finish in a time of 22 minutes, 57 seconds. She was followed by Kristin Adams in 14th with her time of 23:42, and Devin Kroeker in 26th with a time of 25:57. The individual champion was Eva Lou Edwards from Bayfield in 20:22. She was 67 seconds ahead of the second place finisher. The team champion was Bayfield.
For the Mancos boys, Justin Burton led with a season best time of 19:17, which was good for ninth place. He was followed by Brandon McKie in 22nd at 20:21, and Zane Willburn was 30th with a finish of 20:36. The individual champion was Jacob Ames of Delta with his time of 17:31. The team champs were the Pagosa Springs Pirates.
The conditions for this meet were great. There was some mud from the recent rain, but the course was in pretty good shape, Mancos coach Brady Archer said. We have some runners who are really starting to put a good race together at the right time. Justin had a very good race. He put himself in good position at the beginning of the race, and that led to a strong finish. Rachel and Kristin also had good starts to their races, and used that to get high placing finishes.
Mancos Middle School boys finishers include Ro Paschal, seventh, 15:33.44; Kole Romero-Keller, 30th, 17:44.79; Vincent Grego, 34th, 17:49.65; Zane Goodell, 50th, 19:02.93; Jake McKie, 61st, 20:01.78; Mario Montano, 62nd, 20:02.52; Daniel San Miguel, 77th, 22:24.45; Caleb Yoder, 78th, 22:25.53; and, Zane Wilson, 84th, 24:08.26. The boys were sixth as a team with 104 points.
Emma Yost paced the MMS girls in a 12th-place time of 17:21.65. Other girls finishes were Hannah Skinner, 57th, 21:46.60; and, Jessalyn Bay-Volt, 77th, 32:15.53.
Next week, Mancos High School will finish up the regular season by traveling to the Eric Wolff Invitational in Monte Vista. The 2A, 3A and 4A Region-4 meet is on Wednesday, Oct. 19, in Delta, to determine which teams will move onto the state meet in Aurora.
For M-CHS, Dillon Wells recorded the top time for the Panthers at 19:19, which was good for 10th. Rounding out the Panthers are Jonathan Bloedel, 26th, 20:30; Stephen Garner, 35th, 21:14; and, Chandler Dee, 38th, 21:39. The boys took sixth as a team with 100 points.
Rachel Demby once again was the Lady Panthers leader in 17th at 24:05.92. Kia Baikie (21st), Abby Lock (25th) and Meggie Curtis (34th) finished in 24:45.60, 25:37.84 and 28:30.39. The girls were sixth with 83 points as a team.
Cortez Middle School had a strong day. Sonny Boren paced the Jaguars in 17:14.93 to take 22nd. Other times for the CMS boys are Skyler and Trey Yarborough in 17:47.03 and 18:48.92, which was good for 33rd and 46th. Lyle Littlefield (53rd), Kyle Talley (88th) and Zane Schichel (90th) finished in 19:18.64, 27:56.17 and 30:55.05. The Jaguars were seventh at 133 points.
The CMS girls had top finishes from Kayla Hageman (23rd) and Julia Damore (24th) in 18:31.11 and 18:40.36. More Lady Jaguars times include Arica Dean, 34th, 19:29.50; Josie Sitton, 38th, 19:49.75; Alejandra McCully, 39th, 19:57.44; Kristie Jarmillo, 50th, 21:18.29; Kate Martin, 72nd, 26:15.18; and, Victoria Harrington, 74th, 26:42.37. The CMS girls placed fifth with 92 points as a team.