Loyning tops the field at Powell

As they head into the conference and state meets, the Rocky Mountain cross country squads appear to be peaking at just the right time as the boys and girls teams set several personal records at the Pinnacle Bank/Powell Invitational Thursday at the Powell Golf Course.

Asked about the key to success, head coach Tim Jones said the course, weather and the team getting into peak shape were all factors.

“It was all of those things,” he said. “We were a week further in and a week more in condition, the course is a great course, no doubt about it, and though it got hot for the girls race, the boys race had optimal conditions for running. It was a little cooler with no wind.”

Coach Jones ran all of his team members in the junior varsity races Thursday, which paid off for sophomore Sam Loyning, who won the race in a personal-record time of 18:32, nearly a full minute faster than his previous PR.

“Sam is obviously a varsity runner, but there were a lot of good JV kids to run with, so he was pushed. I decided to run everyone together. Sam went out fast, took the lead in the first quarter mile and stayed with it. It’s got to give him confidence that he can start fast and keep the gas pedal down.

“He still has some work to do, but he improves every week, so that’s a good sign.”

Freshman Zach Unruh was also strong Thursday, running under 20 minutes for the first time and placing eighth in the JV race in 19:46, chopping nearly 40 seconds off his PR.

“Both kids (Loyning and Unruh) are setting goals and working hard in practice every night. They do what we ask them to do on weekends, and it’s paying dividends right now.”

Junior Dyami Rock ran 21:52, good for 29th place, and freshman Cody Miller was close behind in 30th place at 22:03, a personal record by more than a minute.

“Dyami didn’t feel good, and we knew it from the get-go,” Jones said. “He works really hard and got everything he could out of himself. He has a good ‘don’t quit’ attitude.

“Cody just has to learn to hurt. Some of that comes with maturity and managing that.”

Girls results

Junior Evynn Alvarez ran a PR by six seconds as she finished 21st in the JV girls race in a time of 26 minutes flat. Sister Ellie set a new PR by a minute and a half, finishing 32nd in 27:57.

“Evynn was less than a second from breaking 26 minutes,” Jones noted. “She ran well. She ran hard.

“The (Alvarez) girls feed off the crowd, so having the crowd close to the runners was good for them – seeing familiar faces. Ellie ran well.”

Senior Rebecca Herren did not run while nursing an injury and is likely done for the season, Jones said.

Conference meet

Due to expected cold weather on Friday, the Grizzlies will travel to Thermopolis today (Thursday) for the Five Rivers (2A West) Conference meet at the Thermopolis Legion Golf Club, rather than the originally scheduled Friday. Running is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. with the boys race, followed by the girls race at 4:30, Jones said.