Girls cross country team takes state

Those who weren't sure as to why there were so many sirens and lights in Thermopolis on Saturday night with no sign of fires or accidents, it was to welcome home our Thermopolis Cross Country runners from State competition in Sheridan, and to congratulate the girls team, which was named the Class 2A champions for Wyoming.

On top of being named state champs, three of our girls - Tahja Hunt, McKenna Bomengen and Olivia Weyer - were selected by the Wyoming Coaches' Association as All-State in Cross Country. The three took top 10 spots for the girls team, Hunt placing second with 20:11.39, Bomengen in sixth with 21:11.75 and Weyer at ninth with 22:03.88.

But the accomplishments didn't stop there, as Hallie Martinez and Karsten Hart had their personal records for the season, Martinez finishing 11th with 22:06.80 and Hart finishing with a time of 25:45.59 in the boys race.

Other times and placings for the girls included: Aime Robinson 13th 22:31.62 and Rebekah Johnson 25:47.92.

Coach Stephanie Metz said the girls have been pushing hard and knew what they had to do at State to get the win. They knew their competition and knew they had to outrun them in order to get the top spot. Metz further noted everyone really raced with heart and passion at this meet.

And it shows, as in addition to the personal records for Martinez and Hart all runners finished with better times than when they ran at Sheridan earlier in the season. All of the runners did their best, Metz said, and wore the uniform with pride. "It was a great day to be a Bobcat."

Overall, it was a good season, Metz said, noted they were in transition with sophomores becoming juniors, but those juniors brought their leadership to the team as well, helping Martinez bring up her times through the season and to just outside the top 10 at State.

Though there were highs and lows through the season, including not being able to compete at Regionals, Metz said the runners knew what they had to do and nothing got them down.