With the Division I-A regional championships just a month away, the Lowry High School cross country teams continue to show improvement, as that big day approaches.
The Buckaroos split up their teams last week, sending a group to the Fernley Roadhill Invitational on Thursday, Sept. 24, and another to the Bob Firman Invitational last Saturday in Boise, Idaho.
“We are seeing times come down and I like the way they are competing,” said LHS coach Kathy Norcutt. “They are pushing each other hard. You race all year, but the season comes down to one race (regional championship). If you have a great, it makes your season and one bad day ruins it. We are getting ready for that one day.”
A pair of freshmen shined at the Bob Firman Invitational, as Rebecca Kuskie, finished 17th the 5,000 meters freshmen girls race in a time of 21 minutes, 34.31 seconds. Will Kracaw placed 43rd in the boys race at 19:30.04.
Skyline, Idaho, won both team titles, scoring 29 points in the girls division and 57 in the boys. Lowry did not have enough runners for a team score.
“Rebecca ran a strong race and was in that top-20 group the whole time,” Norcutt said. “She went to work and started passing people. The race featured some tough competition, but she passed some girls at the end. Will had a good time and he was in a huge field of runners. It was the same thing, he went to work early and he was mentally tough.”
The Lowry varsity boys was placed in the Division I race, which includes schools above 800 students. The Buckaroos were 32nd as a team with 962 points. Fellow, Division I-A North members, Spring Creek and Elko were 12th and 15th, respectively. Davis won the team title with 62 points.
Omar Aranjo paced the Buckaroos with a time of 19:10.52. Teammates Devin Dowd (19:41.42) and Chanse McAllister (19:48.94) were not far behind. Christopher Kearns finished at 21:00.80 and Joe Gildone stopped the clock at 21:52.67.
“Omar ran a super race and that is a career-best for him,” said the coach. “He prepared himself well, and ran a smart race. He fought the whole course and did not let up. He will get under 19 minutes pretty quick. Devin and Chanse stuck together the entire race and they feed off of each other. They pushed each other.”
Lowry had three girls run in the varsity race, with Charice Brown timing in at 24:59.90. Brienna Everhart had a time of 26:12.63 and Alexandra Ziemer 28:48.57.
Meridian won the team title with 94 points and Mountain Crest was second at 133.
Buckaroos takes part in Fernley Invitational
A handful of Lowry runners traveled to Fernley on Thursday, Sept. 22. Gavin Ziemer, a freshman, led the way for the Buckaroos with a time of 24:06.
“That was a nice time for him,” Norcutt said. “It was a tough course with a lot of hills.”
Liam Gallups was 30 seconds behind his team at 24:36. Jacob Means (26:29) and Braden Thomas (32:08) rounded out the times in the boys race.
North Tahoe won the team championship with 34, while Dayton (75) and Churchill County (79), were second and third, respectively. McQueen (137) and Fernley (140) rounded out the top five.
Lowry did not have enough runners to occur a team score.
Odessa Pearrow timed in at 33:21 for the girls and Amelia Weber had a time of 38:41.
North Tahoe won the girls title as well, scoring 25 points. Fernley was second with 54 and Churchill County (69) and McQuen (80) were third and fourth, respectively.
Lowry travels to Sparks on Friday for the Reed Invitational.
The Buckaroos will host their home meet on Friday, Oct. 9, at Winnemucca Municipal Golf Course.
Students from the elementary and middle schools will also run as part of the day.
