Sundance runners push on as season winds down

The Sundance Bulldog Cross Country team competed in the Brittany Rentas Cross Country meet in Wright on Saturday, Oct. 3. The meet brought with it new competition for Bulldog athletes.

Senior Hunter Skeens placed second in the boys’ varsity race in a time of 17:53:30.

“It was a great race and I’m glad I got to see where I stood with some other runners I haven’t seen since the beginning of the season,” Skeens said.

Skeens took second behind fellow state contender Wyatt Ostler of Tongue River. Skeens noted the competition was key in helping him prepare a game plan for the state meet Oct. 24.

“I need to work on finishing strong,” Skeens said. “I run on empty toward the end of my race and it’s when I am beat.” 

“The competition was tough this week,” said coach Ann Marie Mickle. “Our runners are working hard and we will do what we need to do to continue to improve for conference in two weeks.” 

Freshman Deklan Gill placed ninth, in a time of 20:42:44. Senior Josh Pridgeon and sophomore Kort McLaughlin fought for the 22nd and 23rd place in 22:44:13 and 22:45:73, respectively. 

Freshman Rylie Marchant placed sixth in a time of 23:25.79, while freshman Jordan Mouat placed 14th in a time of 27:05.49. 

Mickle noted all varsity runners did trim off time from the previous week’s contest. 

Eighth-graders Angel Villegas, Wyatt Flahaven and Jager McLaughlin ran for the boys junior high. Villegas finished in ninth place in the 3k race in a time of 13:01.95. Flahaven finished in 15:52.28 and McLaughlin in 16:08.63. 

Sixth-grader Maria Villegas ran in a time of 17:54.94 in the girls’ junior high 3k race. 

Bulldog runners have set personal goals for the second half of the season, and the new goals will aid runners not only in the conference meet, but qualifying for and competing in the state cross country meet.

The Bulldogs have a bye week before competing in the conference meet in Hulett, Oct. 16. The State 2A Cross Country Meet is Saturday, Oct. 24 in Douglas.