By BOB SNELL
The Progress
A group of 25 runners – 19 boys and six girls – assembled in front of Virgin Valley High School on a hot and muggy evening last week for the first official cross country team tryout.
The large turnout was a welcome sight for VVHS head coaches Marianne Leavitt and Don Rappleye.
“We only had two girls last year, so it was nice to see this many come out,” Leavitt said. “We’re also hoping to get a few more that want to come run with us.”
“I think this might be the most boys we’ve had come out,” Rappleye added. “This is great!”
While cross country may not be for everyone, it’s more than just showing up and running around the track.
“We go out and run our trails,” Rappleye said. “We like to mix things up and make it interesting for the kids.”
It’s not just one particular course they run on, either.
“We have a course we like to run in Bunkerville and one up at the sports complex,” Leavitt said. “Each course has a different terrain.”
Several of the athletes have been working out on their own over the summer.
“We’ve had a couple of kids that ran 40 miles a week,” Rappleye said. “They are committed and they really want to win.”
The top runner returning for VVHS this season is Jenna Walters. The junior finished second in the 1600 meters and third in the 3200 meters at the state track meet in May.
“Jenna is a great runner,” Leavitt said. “She has a personal drive and just wants to get better.”
A trio of freshmen girls – Zoey Didrickson, Grace King and Yamila Vega-Archuleta – will also be counted on.
On the boys side, eight returning runners are led by seniors Drew Maxfield, Owen Rappleye and Travis Terry. They will form a strong nucleus for the Bulldogs. The others are junior Gavin Hughes along with sophomores Isaac Greive, Max Hughes, Jesus Sandoval and Oliver West.
“They’re all great kids,” Rappleye said. “I enjoy working with them. We’re having a lot of fun.”
The first meet for VVHS will be August 27 at the Red Rock Running Company Invitational at Floyd Lamb State Park in Las Vegas.
“The course is two to 2.5 miles which is a little shorter than most of our meets,” Leavitt said. “It’s a good course to get some of our kids used to running again.”
VVHS will host two meets this fall – Oct. 19 at the Mesquite Sports and Events Complex and the Virgin Valley Invitational Oct. 22 at Thomas Dudley Park in Bunkerville.
Cross Country Schedule
Aug. 27 7 am Red Rock Inv.
Sep. 10 7 am Larry Burgess Inv.
Sep. 17 8 am MVHS Pirate Inv.
Sep 28 3:30 PM Rancho Weekday
Oct. 1 TBA CSN Inv.
Oct. 8 TBA Bud O’Dea 9-10 Classic
Oct 11 3:30 PM MVHS Weekday
Oct 19 3:30 PM VVHS Weekday
Oct. 22 8 AM VVHS Bulldog Inv.
Oct 28 Regionals
Nov 5 State Championship Home games in bold
Schedule subject to change without notice
