by Jessica Robison
Moapa Valley Progress
The Moapa Valley Cross Country team traveled to Boulder City for the 40th Annual Larry Burgess-Las Vegas Invitational held on Saturday, September 11. This 5K (3.1 miles) race was hosted by Basic and Del Sol High School. The meet featured 1,113 athletes from 27 teams.
The course in Boulder City is mostly in gravel. It begins with a long stretch of grass, then narrows down to an asphalt path before merging into the gravel that continues through about two miles. The few hills are very gradual and not very scary. Once out of the gravel, the athletes run on the sidewalk around a pond then continue to the final downhill stretch of the course.
Runners from Moapa Valley competed in three different races. Boys Varsity began at 9:30 in the morning. Josh Thompson took first place of the Small School Boy’s Varsity race with a time of 17:13. In second place came Chase Witter at 19:15, seventh place Milas Sendlein at 21:20, eighth place Cody Wood at 21:38, twelfth place Tyler Reynolds at 25:38, then Garret Traasdahl in fifteenth place at 27:46.
“We’re starting out slow but once we get into the season, we’ll get through and be able to pull out a state championship,” Josh Thompson said confidently.
The Small School Girls Varsity raced next at 10:00 AM. Tibi Willard completed the race first of the four lady Pirates participating at 27:42. Kenna McMurray followed soon thereafter with 31:17, then came DJ Carter at 34:04, and Jessica Robison with 35:13.
At 10:30 AM, the Junior Varsity Boys ran their 2.5 mile course. Tyler Winzenreid finished the race with 18:10 and Ryan Leachman followed with 20:01.
“This was the team’s first 5K race of the season,” Richard Bush, coach of the Boy’s Cross Country team commented. “They are performing better than they did this time last season.”
Pirate runners will next race on Wednesday, September 15th at Shadow Ridge High School in Las Vegas.
