After starting the year on a tough course in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the Lowry High School cross country team had its opportunity at speed racing with the Dayton Invitational on Friday, Sept. 18.
A handful of Division I-A, III and IV schools throughout northern Nevada took part in the event.
“It was a lot different course from the first week,” said LHS coach Kathy Norcutt. “But there was one good incline for the kids to climb.”
The Lowry boys had six runners finish in the top 23 in the field of 75 and placed second as a team. Dayton won the team title on its home course.
Jonathan Madrid led the way for the Buckaroo boys, with a time of 19 minutes, 31 seconds. Third through sixth-place in the race was decided by 30 seconds. Silver Stage’s Trevor Martin won in a time of 17:55.
“Jonathan had super-good time,” Norcutt said. “He ran a great race.”
The Buckaroos had a pack of five runners that finished within 30 seconds of each other. Omar Aranjo placed 14th with a time of 20:22, Devin Dowd was 18th at 20:36 and Will Kracaw was five seconds back in 20th at 20:41. Chanse McAllister (20:56) and Christopher Kearns (20:57) broke the 21-minute mark to finish 22nd and 23rd, respectively.
“The next five guys are right there,” Norcutt said. “They ran in a pack, which I like to see. I have wanted them to do that for two years. It was excellent pack running. I want them to see the next runner in front and pass them. The next goal is to get them under 20 minutes.”
Joe Gildone finished 36th in a time of 21:42, Liam Gallups was 49th at 22:26 and Jacob Means (25:48) and Braden Thomas (30:00). Norcutt said that Gildone has been suffering from a hurt hip and getting back into the flow of practice.
The girls team finished fourth as a team, with freshman Rebecca Kuskie pacing the Lady Bucks. In her first varsity race, Kuskie finished fourth with a time of 23:07. Incline’s Urs Volz won the race at 21:45. Sierra Lutheran’s Elaina Marchegger (22:40) was second and Churchill County’s Chloe Overlie (22:53) third.
“She had a great performance for her first varsity race,” said the coach. “The three girls that finished ahead of her are upperclassmen. She is learning to gain strength. She has really never raced a 5K. She’s been a track standout in the mile in junior high, but cross country is a lot different from running on a track. I couldn’t be more pleased. The more she competes, the more her times will drop.”
Charice Brown missed out on finishing in the top 10 by eight seconds and was 13th in a time of 24:35. Brienna Everhart placed 23rd with a time of 27:28 and Alexandra Ziemer was 28th at 28:44. Odessa Pearrow (29:56) finished 29th, Amelia Weber (32:58) was 33rd and Camryn Maher (32:58) placed 34th.
“Charice had a nice race and Alexandra really stepped up for us,” Norcutt said. “Brienna, Odessa and Amelia are running cross country for the first time. They are doing well. It was nice to see the competitiveness in all the kids come out.”
Lowry sent a handful of runners to the Fernley Invitational on Thursday. Results were not available at press time. Those who did not run in Fernley, travel to Boise, Idaho, this weekend for the Bob Firman Invitational. The meet is one of the biggest in the West, featuring middle school high school and college races.
