Tag Archives: cross country

Taking the Start to Arizona

Photo by Catherine Liggett
Photo by Catherine Liggett

By Catherine Liggett

The boys’ varsity cross country team stepped up to the start line for the final time this season.  The boys placed 12th as a team at the 5A Region 5 State Qualifier Meet on Oct. 17. Despite a missed opportunity to compete at the State Championships, the boys still believe they have a chance to perform in the postseason and prepare for next year.

Junior Dillon DeSalvo, along with three of his teammates, was able to achieve a season personal best at the Regional meet, running the Monument Valley course in 18 minutes and 24 seconds.  Other runners to set a season best on the course included freshman Scott Johnson, senior Jackson Davis, and senior Greg Brantley.

“The regional race helped me see that I can run faster than I think.  I ran a personal best and was able to pass some of the top varsity runners,” DeSalvo said.

While the season may be over, the boys refuse to give up on running this winter and are preparing to compete in the Southwest Nike Cross Regionals in Arizona this November.  DeSalvo is saving his best effort for a great race in Gilbert, AZ and is determined to “get a good time and race to the best of my abilities.”

“On top of competing, I just want to have a good time with my teammates, but still mainly focus on competing,” DeSalvo said.

The team has its sights set on the future and is ready for a substantially better season next year.  “Next year is our year.  We’re all going to be a little more serious, take our workouts to the max, and just overall have more focus,” DeSalvo said.

Through the highs and the lows of the past cross country season, DeSalvo has learned one essential lesson to running: “At the end of the race, you don’t want to feel like you could have gone faster.  If you think you’re running fast, then run faster.”

Girls’ Cross Country on Track for State

By Hannah Ross

Throughout the past few seasons, the girls cross country team has been vying for a spot at state, and this year they’re proving they have a shot.

“This year’s girls cross country team has bonded like no other team in past years. The girls all have strong friendships and strive to push each other to do their best,” said captain and junior Peyton Cottingham.

Cross country is one of the few sports that does not have a set JV and varsity team. The varsity team is the “starting seven which changes weekly, but the top five have remained consistent so far this season,” said Coach Megan Peterson.

The starting five are sophomore Maddie Roberts, freshman Catherine Liggett, junior Marlena Long, sophomore Lauren Moden, and sophomore Ryan Sotebeer.

“Times have improved because of a stronger bond within the girls and we have more support for each other,” said Cottingham.

“I love it! I have great friends on the cross country team. We are like a family!” said Sophomore Sarah Bergford.

The girls also have a “better chance at going to state than the boys. We might not beat their times, but we will definitely try to be at state with them!” said Cottingham.

“The girls team has had a lot of successes this season,” said Coach Peterson.

Some of their top meets were at the Pueblo Invitational on Sept. 15, the varsity girls finished second. The Varsity girls team won the Arvada West Invitational last Friday, Sept. 21 and the JV girls team finished in 3rd place.

This season is shaping up to be one of the best.

“The girls cross country team has continued to improve since Legend opened and this year’s girls team is the biggest and most competitive we have had so far. I’m excited to see what those girls can do together,” Coach Peterson said.