Obviously, two regular-season meet wins were not enough for Montezuma-Cortez High School cross country runner Rachel Demby. The Panthers’ standout had to have three.
Running in Blanding, Utah, at the John Thornton Invitational on Wednesday, Oct. 9, Demby blew away a solid field by 40 seconds on an extremely difficult course, winning her third individual title of the year with a time of 22 minutes, 27 seconds.
“After the race, (Demby) said, ‘I left it all on the course … my best race of the season,” wrote Panthers’ head coach Paul Koops in an email to the Cortez Journal. “I concur. These mentally and physically tough courses have primed her for the Regional meet.”
Also running well for the girls’ team, Samantha Bagge finished 23rd (26:45), Taryn Wilson finished 46th (30:13), Madison VanBibber finished 48th (30:23), Rachel Zetts finished 53rd (32:08) and Julia Damore finished 55th (32:13).
As a team, the Panthers finished seventh in the nine-team meet, which was won by North Sevier High School (Utah).
On the boys’ side, Chandler Dee again paced the Panthers, finishing in 19th place with a time of 21:09.
Close behind was Justice Ramos, who, nursing a sprained ankle, managed to cross the line in 28th with a time of 22:17.
Other varsity finishers for the Panthers included Taylor Wilson, who finished 37th (22:42), Jonathan Bloedel, who finished 42nd (23:05) and Leonard LaPaz, who finished 64th (25:54.)
As a team, the boys finished sixth, while Monticello took the overall team title.
With the regular season now complete, the Panthers’ harriers will turn their attention to the Regional meet, which will take place Friday, Oct. 18, in Delta.
imaclaren@cortezjournal.com
