Lovell harriers end season with strong runs at state

By: 
David Peck

Running in the much more difficult Class 3A division this season, the Lovell cross country squad gave it their all Saturday at the Wyoming State Cross Country Meet in Cheyenne, with several running their best race of the season.

While most runners did not run personal records on the difficult course at a high altitude (6,086 feet), nearly all performed at a high level on the Little America Golf Course, head coach Caleb Sanders said.

“I thought our kids performed better this year than last year,” Sanders said. “We knew we wouldn’t place as a team or have any all-staters (top 10), and we knew the course was tough. But we talked to the kids about competing – going out there and having an assertive race. And I thought they all did.

“We had great weather. It was beautiful. There was no issue with the wind or heat (70s).”

The top runner for the Lovell boys once again was junior David Durfee, who ran well under 20 minutes for the eighth time this season and finished 38th out of 104 runners in a time of 19:11.

“David was our top runner. He wasn’t beaten by anybody on our team this year,” Sanders noted.

Senior Stetson Asay finished 45th in 19:28, 30 seconds faster than his time at the conference meet in Lander and his second fastest time of the season.

“Stetson stepped up,” Sanders said. “This was the best I’ve ever seen him race. As a senior and in his last race, he put it all into that race. It was his second fastest time but his best race. He stood out to me.”

Finishing not far behind Asay in 53rd was junior Jacob Thomas, who ran the course in 19:59.

Sanders said Thomas may have been a bit disappointed in his time, but he said the boys team as a whole performed well in Cheyenne.

“The boys in general did a solid job. They really attacked the course,” he said. “I was very pleased with them. This was the best our boys team has run at State in a couple of years.”

Senior Dino DeLaCruz also finished his cross country career at State, coming in 73rd in a time of 20:50.

“It was a good race for Dino,” Sanders said. “He was fun to have around this year. He committed himself to having a good experience. He set a PR this season and ran under 20 minutes. He had a good senior year.”

Four spots behind DeLaCruz was sophomore teammate Sam Mayes, who finished 77th in 21:02. Junior Damian Wagner finished 82nd in 21:22, sophomore Hudsen Mickelson 90th in 21:48.

“Watching Sam in the race, he handled it good. I could tell in his effort,” Sanders said. “Sam, Damian and Hudsen really got after it in the first mile. They didn’t hold back. The last half of the race requires a lot of guts. The first hill really takes a lot out of you. The boys did a really good job. They ran better than they did in Lander. We had better results this year (at State) with basically the same team.

“Damian felt like he went out too fast. It was his fastest first mile. That shows how bad he wanted to race well. It was his third fastest time on a really challenging course. Hudsen ran like he did the whole back end of the season.”

Girls results

The top finisher for the Lovell girls was junior Elana Schilthuis, who finished 36th in the field of 88 in a time of 23 minutes flat.

“Elana did what she’s been doing all year,” Sanders said. “She would have been fourth in 2A, but we’re not in 2A. She’s been our top runner the last four races. That (time of 23 minutes) is equivalent to the 22 minutes she ran in Powell. This was probably her best race. It’s 2,000 feet higher (in Cheyenne) and a hilly course.”

Freshman Caylee Herman finished 58th in 24:49.

“She was definitely dedicated this season,” Sanders said. “She was our second fastest runner, and I know she wanted to run faster at State. It just wasn’t there this time.”

Sophomore Candace Walker finished 73rd in 27:19, her second fastest time of the season.

“Candace ran her best race of the year, not her fastest, but her best,” Sanders noted. “She made a huge leap from the beginning of the season to the end.”

Freshman Juliette Caldwell actually set a personal record on the tough course, finishing 78th in 28:25. 

“This was by far her best effort,” Sanders said. “This was the most healthy she’s been in a race, and she ran a PR, despite some confusion at the finish line.”

Right behind Caldwell was senior Danika Crumrine, who finished 79th in 28:41. Sanders said Crumrine gave it her all despite running while hurting.

“She struggled at the end with her injuries,” he said. “She’s a tough girl. About 90 percent of her race was painful for her.”

Junior Atlee Sanders finished 82nd in 29:47, her second fastest time of the season.

“That was Atlee’s best race,” Coach Sanders said. “Coach (Bret) George and I thought that was, by far, her best race this season. Four of our six girls ran their best race at State.”

Sanders has scheduled an end-of-season awards night next Tuesday, Nov. 5, at 5:30 p.m. at the high school multipurpose room.

Category: