Cross country teams place third

The girls high school and middle school teams had a strong showing last Thursday at the Lander Invite, with each team taking third place.

Coach Stephanie Metz was excited for the team finishes because of the size of the teams we have this season. Regarding the middle school girls, she said younger team members like Hanna Hill, Sofia Gerber and Kendall Bradshaw have really taken off and supported older members Jayda Griffin, Dazlynn Hunt and Elizabeth Peterson.

The same is true of the high school girls team, Metz said, noting the veteran juniors can do amazing, but there is some added depth with Aime Robinson and Hallie Martinez. She added Robinson and Martinez will often race one another at meets, and that has been a key to their success.

The middle school boys are doing well also, Metz said, though they are not placing as high, but she pointed out there is twice as much competition for the boys. Runners Seth Needham, William "Isaac" Robinson and Jesse Rodriguez keep alternating who will finish first among them, while others like Kanyon Gerber and Brody Potter are also doing well.

This past Monday, Sept 17, the high school team also attended the Rocky Mountain Invite. Metz said the decision to attend was last minute, as Rocky Mountain is hosting conference this year and she wanted to familiarize the runners with the course. She noted some team members had run it before, but that was in middle school.

The Rocky Mountain Invite was good competition as well, Metz said, with Cody and Powell also attending.

Cross Country will next compete at the Warrior Invite in Worland on Thursday, Sept. 20. Metz said the Bobcats have always done well at this meet. Many of them didn't get the times they wanted at Lander with it's "crazy hill," she said, whereas Worland's course is a bit more level and one they know well.

Results from the meet include:

JV Girls: Rebekah Johnson 32:22

JV Boys: Karsten Hart 33:30

Varsity Girls: Tahja Hunt third, 21:38; McKenna Bomengen seventh, 22:41; Olivia Weyer 15th, 24:20; Martinez 20th, 25:23; and Robinson 28:05

Middle School Boys: Rodriguez 15:33; Robinson 15:38; Needham 15:59; Gerber 17:27; Potter 17:28; Aidan Freeman 23:27; and Joseph Crow 24:29

Middle School Girls: Dazlynn Hunt second, 14:30; Griffin fourth, 15:00; Peterson 10th 15:30; Hill 18:28; Bradshaw 19:06; and Gerber 19:10