By BRYNNE MCMURRAY
Moapa Valley Progress
The Moapa Valley High School Cross Country team picked up its pace and had a great day at Red Rock Running Invitational held on Saturday, September 13.
The team ran at Floyd Lamb park in Las Vegas.
The runners arrived early to walk the course. It was a full five kilometer race (3.1 miles). The course was set up as a small loop followed by 2 larger loops. The course was well balanced, with parts of it in sand and parts on asphalt, as well as having lots of hills.
The girls ran first, beginning at 9:00 am. The first girl overall to finish for the meet was Alexis Gourrier from Centennial High School. She ran the course in 18:32.
Kacy Udall was the first Pirate to finish and came in at 24:16, which put her in 95th place overall. Brynne McMurray was the next Pirate runner to finish and came across the line at 25:27, which pulled her into 115th place overall. Summer Omer finished with a time of 28:11, in 139th place.
Finishing up for the Pirates was freshman Madison Mortensen, with a time of 32:10, good enough for 148th place overall.
“All the racers improved their times, which is what we want,” said girls’ coach Tracy Riggins. “We want them to improve their times every time they step up to the plate. I’m very proud of them for doing that.”
The boys ran next. The first place runner for the meet was Dajour Braxton, also from Centennial High School, who finished the course in 15:43.
Nathaniel Brill was the first runner in for the Pirates. He posted a time of 18:44, which was good enough for 77th place overall.
J.R. Redd finished after Nathaniel in 122nd place with a time of 20:18.
At 21:11, Zach Anderson sprinted across the line in 134th place. He was followed by Marshall Potts in 153rd place with a time of 23:33. Freshman Tayler Landini crossed at 26:08, in 159th place. Logan Mortenson, junior, finished his race in 30:50 and 161st place, and freshman Nathan Chandler finished the race for the Pirates with a time of 32:21, in 162nd place.
Gary Watkins, Moapa Valley Boys’ Cross Country Coach said, “Every boy made a personal record today! I am very pleased with their progress. This race helps us set the training program for the rest of the year.”
Watkins’ praise is well founded, in that every single one of the runners beat their own best times for the year.
The next race event will be the UNLV invitational on September 20th at Craig Ranch Park, starting at 8:00 am. However, everyone will have a chance to view the Pirate cross country team in action without having to travel out of town as the team will be hosting a meet on Tuesday, September 23, at the Moapa Valley High School track beginning at 4:30 pm.
