VVHS Hosts Two Cross Country Meets

By VERNON ROBISON

The Progress

The Virgin Valley High School Cross Country program hosted two separate 5,000 meter races last week. Both of the races began and ended at Bunkerville’s Thomas Leavitt Memorial Park. The unique 3.1 mile course wound through the fields and pastures to the north and west of Bunkerville.

The first race was a weekday meet held on Wednesday, Oct. 19. A total of six teams brought runners to the meet, five of these teams traveled out from the Las Vegas valley to compete.

In the boys race, VVHS senior Owen Rappley took first place with a time of 18:22.1. Isaac Greig, a sophomore took fourth place at 19:07.6; and junior Gavin Hughes came in fifth at 19:53.2. Michael Anderson finished 9th for the Bulldogs with a time of 20:40.5.

The other six top ten finishers in the race were runners from Basic High School in Henderson. As a team, Basic edged out the Bulldogs to win the boys team title.

On the girls side, VVHS junior Jenna Walters crossed the finish first with a time of 20:54.3. Bulldog freshman Camryn Lee took second at 24:39.5. Yamila Vega Archuleta took 5th place for the Bulldogs at 26:19.7.

On Saturday, the VVHS runners assembled again at Bunkerville park for the Virgin Valley Bulldog Invitational. This meet brought together four different teams including members of the Moapa Valley High School girls team. The boys were travelling to compete in Mt. SAC, California on Saturday.

The Bulldogs placed eight runners in the top ten at the race. Rappleye once again blazed the trail in the boys race taking first place with a time of 18:25.4. Greig took second at 18:36.1. Hughes was third at 19:15.3. Destry Tobler came in 4th at 19:37.8. Other top ten finishers included Drew Maxfield (19:46.8), Connor Zarate (19:47.2), Anderson (19:47.4) and Tray Hughes (20:47).

On the girls side, Walters once again crossed the finish first with a time of 23:20.3. Pirate sophomore Sasha Barnes took 2 at 23:47.4. Lee and Vega Archuleta took 3rd and 4th for the Bulldogs with times of 24:39.7 and 24:44.9 respectively. MVHS runners Beverly Potts placed 5th with time of 25:22.9.

With that, the Bulldogs have finished their regular season competition. This week will be the Regional Championship meet on Friday, Oct. 28 at Veterans Memorial Park in Boulder City. The Southern 3A Region will be competed at 12:30 pm for boys and 1:05 pm for girls.