By GABRIELLE SHIOZAWA
Moapa Valley Progress
What a change has occurred in the Moapa Valley Cross Country team in just a few years time.
Only nine runners embodied the Moapa Valley Cross Country teams during the 2014 season: three boys and six girls. This left the boys unable to vie for team championships, as league and state tournaments require a minimum of five members. And though the girls were able to compete for such championships, the stiff competition left them with hardly any chance for success.
In 2015, however, the teams received a surge in numbers. A total of 29 runners hit the starting line that year, with 16 girls and 13 boys making up the two teams. Despite the increase, the teams made it only to Regionals that year, where they both placed sixth overall.
Members dwindled slightly in 2016, dropping to only ten runners on the girls’ team, eight on the boys,’ and six in the middle school division. But regardless of this disadvantage, the MVHS boys were able to qualify for the 2016 State meet where they placed seventh.
This year’s group, riding off of the backs of last year’s successes and pushing for gains of their own, is full of potential.
The turnout for the 2017 Cross Country season was unprecedented. This year’s teams include a total of 31 MVHS runners, 19 of which are female. Twelve of these girls are new recruits, including ten freshmen and one foreign exchange student.
The boys team has 12 runners. Five of those are new recruits as well.
Zachary Anderson, a senior at MVHS, is now in his fourth year on the school’s Cross Country team. While reflecting on the 2016 season, Anderson expressed a desire to build on last year’s State performance, saying that he wants “to do better and…have a chance at taking State.
“Of course, everyone’s goal is to take State; it’s important,” Anderson explained. “But I think we have a chance this year. I think we could do it, so that’s my goal.”
Head coaches Gary Watkins and Heather Humes feel similarly.
“I’m optimistic,” commented Humes. “Any time you have new runners come out in these kinds of numbers, you have something to be excited about.”
“We want to go to State,” was Watkins’ emphatic response. “Not just the boys’ team.”
“Things are looking up for the program,” Humes added. “I think we have the best shot in a long time we’ve had with the girls’ team…if we’ll focus and work hard.
“It’s going to be fun,” she added with a smile. “We’re going to have fun this year.”
MVHS 2017 Cross Country Schedule
Aug 26 Red Rock Invitational 7:30 Las Vegas
Aug 30 Meet 4:30 Las Vegas
Sept 09 Las Vegas Inv. 8:00 Las Vegas
Sept 13 Meet 4:30 Las Vegas
Sept 16 Moapa Valley Inv. 7:30 MVHS
Sept 27 Meet 4:30 Las Vegas
Oct 07 Falcon Inv. 7:30 Las Vegas
Oct 10 O’Dea Classsic (F/S) 3:00 Las Vegas
Oct 14 Lake Mead Classic 8:00 Boulder City
Oct 21 Division Final TBA Las Vegas
Oct 27 So, Reg. Championship TBA Las Vegas
Nov. 04 State Championship TBA North
