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“We had a great week,” shared Head Cross Country Coach T. J. Blackhurst. “We had a really tough week of practice which included hill sprints, intervals along with getting a decent amount of mileage in as well. The kids were a little sore going into the meet, but had a variety of season and all-time personal records.”
The meet Blackhurst was referring to was last Saturday at Elmwood Golf Course in Pueblo and was hosted by Pueblo Central. The girl’s team was led by Jolee Ortiz who ran a 23:46.80 and placed 8th. Clarissa Peterson finished 9th, a scant six seconds behind her teammate. Raechel Lopez placed 13th overall.
The boys were led by Senior Josh Garner 13th, in a time of 19:44.80 along with Josh Newitt 22nd, posting a time of 20:28.40. Garner hit a season best mark, and Newitt had an overall personal; record as well.
Blackhurst had positive words about another member of the boys’ team. “I Am encouraged by the rapid improvement of David Kirkland who placed 42nd with a personal record of 25:52.60. He has cut several minutes off of his previous personal record.
On Wednesday the team will participate in the Pueblo City-County Championships also at the Elmwood Golf Course. On the 9th of October they travel to Rocky Ford for regionals.
Blackhurst and the team hope that by Regionals Audrey Maroney, a junior and state placer, has recovered from a hip flexor injury.