Cross Country seasons open with strong performances

The Sundance Bulldog Cross Country team opened its fall 2020 season August 27 and 28 with the Newcastle Invite. The Bulldogs had a successful first meet, claiming several top spots from junior high to varsity. 

Senior Hunter Skeens finished fourth in the boys varsity race, running in a time of 18:54.2. Skeens claimed his fourth-place finish by a foot – literally – as he raced a Douglas competitor across the finish line. Skeens was impressed with his work for the opening meet.

“The course was nice and flat with a few hills to climb. There was good competition that helped me push myself and got me to meet my goal for that week,” Skeens said.

Freshman Rylie Marchant claimed a first-place finish in the girls junior varsity with a time of 26:46.1 while freshmen Riley Banker and Willow Lindholm finished seventh and 14th, respectively. Banker ended with a time of 31:03.4 and Lindholm finished in 34:43.9.

“It was a good momentum for the start of the season,” said Marchant on her first-place finish. “My goal is to keep improving my times at each meet.”

Deklan Gill, freshman, finished fifth in the boys junior varsity in a time of 22:33.4. Gill was pleased with the time and noted “I kept thinking when in doubt, stride it out.”

The SHS junior high cross country team competed in Newcastle Aug. 27. Eighth-grader Angel Villegas opened his season with a first-place finish in a time of 10:01.9. Wyatt Flahaven finished in 13:57.1. 

The Newcastle Invite was a testament of the hard work the 12-member team has accomplished with just over a week of practices before the inaugural competition. The cool weather was a reprieve from the 90-degree heat athletes have endured during practices the past several weeks.

“I am proud of the work our runners have put in to prepare for the first meet of the season,” said Bulldog cross country coach Ann Marie Mickle. “We’ve had some long, hot runs and students not only worked hard, but kept a positive attitude despite the challenges.”

Mickle added she hopes the senior leaders – Skeens and Josh Pridgeon – will mentor the younger runners and build their speed, endurance and confidence throughout the season.

The Bulldog Cross Country team will compete in the Hulett Invite on Sept. 4 and travel to Big Horn on Sept. 11.