By Kenna McMurray

Moapa Valley Progress

Freshman MVHS runner, Marshall Potts sprints to the finish at the Lake Mead Invitational held in Boulder City on Saturday. Photo by Kenna McMurray.

The Pirate Cross Country team competed at the Desert Breeze Park in Las Vegas on Tuesday, October 4. DJ Carter finished the 2.6 mile course 57th with a time of 20:56.5. Victoria Karvonen finished 87th at 22:56.6. The first place finisher overall was Sydney Badger, from Centennial who ran a 15:28.8, averaging about a 6:11 mile.

In the boys race, Skylar Whipple ran the course in 15:59.0 placing 21st overall. Next came Markus Enosa, running at 19:33.3. Marshall Potts was right behind him at 20.12.3. Devin Mortensen finished the race at 23:13.12. The first place finisher in the race was Martin Ponce from SECTA high school with a time of 13:42.7.

Moapa competed again on Saturday, October 8, at the Lake Mead Invitational at Veteran’s Memorial Park in Boulder City. The course is a blend of desert, grass, and asphalt and loops around a large fishing pond. It contains several minor hills, as well as a long, steady incline.

In the girls race, DJ Carter finished with a time of 25:32.2, her personal record. Kenna McMurray came in with a time of 27:50.0. Bella Wahl and Victoria Karvonen crossed the finish line together. Karvonen crossed at 29:43.2 and Wahl crossed at 29:43.7. First place in the race was taken by Jessica Tobler of Boulder City with a time of 19:58.5.

In the boys race, Skylar Whipple came in with a time of 19:56.1. Next came Garrett Traasdahl at 24:26.3, a personal record for the course. Marshall Potts sprinted in right behind him at 24:47.2. Ryan Leachman and Markus Enosa finished neck and neck with Leachman coming in at 25:21.5 and Enosa coming in at 25.23.0. Dakota Shyface came in three seconds later at 25:26.2. Devin Mortensen came in with a time of 28: 33.1.

The first place runner in the boys race was Doug Harris of Green Valley who ran with a time of 17:15.2.

Overall, coaches felt it was a great week for Moapa. “This is not an easy sport!” said MVHS girls cross country coach Heather Humes. “It can beat you up mentally and physically. These kids are working hard and that work is paying off. Every meet shows improvement. As a coach, I couldn’t be happier.”