By Kenna McMurray

Moapa Valley Progress

MVHS runner DJ Carter competes at a Laughlin divisional meet. Carter is one of three MVHS runners who qualified for the state meet this weekend in Reno. Photo by Kenna McMurray.

The Pirate Cross Country team competed at the regional tournament in Laughlin on Friday, October 28. This meet is used to qualify certain runners who will compete at the State meet on Saturday in Reno. For some of the runners, it was their last meet of the year. For others it would be their last meet with MVHS cross country.

The course in Laughlin was mostly grassy, with a slow, steady dirt decline and a quick, steep, and grassy incline.

First to run for the Pirates was the girl’s team. The regional champion for the 3A girls was defending champion Jessica Tobler from Boulder City. Tobler finished the 3.1 mile course with a time of 20:44, finishing three and a half minutes before the second place runner.

Moapa Valley runner DJ Carter finished seventh place overall at 25:39. Carter qualified to compete at the State meet next weekend.

Next came Kenna McMurray who placed ninth overall with a time of 27:28, a personal record for this year. McMurray also qualified to compete at State next week.

Victoria Karvonen finished the season with a time of 28:16, a personal record. Bella Wahl pushed through the course and ended at 30:13. Wiebke Roehrs finished at 33:08. The girl’s team took second overall with a team total of 40 points, placing behind Virgin Valley who had a total of 18 points.

In the boys race, the Pirate boys faced a competitive meet with everyone battling for a chance at a State qualifier.

The race started at a quick pace. Many runners received a personal record.

It was a close race for the boys, with the overall winner being Evan Clouse from Boulder City with a time of 18:22. Fellow teammate Chandler Hawkins finished only four seconds behind him and Ty Rappleye from Virgin Valley finished only a second behind Hawkins.

Moapa Valley runner Skyler Whipple finished fifth overall with a personal record of 19:09. Team Captain, Tyler Reynolds, finished his senior year at 21:04, also a personal record. Tyler Winzenreid, who is also captain of the boy’s team, ran a 21:56, finishing his high school career with a personal record for this year. Junior Garrett Traasdahl was right behind him with a time of 22:21, a personal record. Freshman Markus Enosa also gained a personal record with a time of 24:32 followed by Marshall Potts at 25:02, and Ryan Leachman at 25:11.

Boulder City placed first as a team and will take their entire team to State. Moapa Valley placed third overall with a total of 71 points.

Skyler Whipple will advance to the state meet.

“I am pleased with the effort from everyone,” said Girls team head coach Heather Humes said. “Through trial and perseverance each did what they needed to do. Although we could not take the whole team to state, I am pleased to have been coach.”