The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
“The kids did a good job managing their illnesses”
The best-laid plans get tossed once illness strikes Crested Butte Community School athletics. As is often the case, that happens right around the third or fourth week of school. Homework mounts, the athletic season is in full stride and sleep deprivation cripples young athletes’ immune systems.
Coach Austin Ross had plans for his team last week. After some stand-out performances from some of his runners in Leadville, Ross’ hope was to take the Gunnison Invitational by storm. But, like I said, that plan got tossed.
“Unfortunately, last week we dealt with a lot of illness,” says Ross. “Most of the week was just managing people’s health. The training plan kind of went out the window.”
Fortunately, the rest and rehab did pan out as all but one Titan lined up Saturday for the Gunnison Invitational.
“The kids did a good job managing their illnesses,” says Ross. “A couple still had low energy but, for the most part, everyone did really well.”
The Gunnison Invitational also provided an opportunity for several Titans to step into the varsity fray. For the first couple of races, only four Titan boys and two Titan girls raced varsity. In Gunnison, everyone was in on the action.
“That was exciting because it meant we could score as a team for the first time,” says Ross.
Aiden Truettner returned to form in Gunnison after dropping out of the race in Leadville with back issues. Truettner lined up against a handful of heavy hitters, some who have posted sub 16-minute times on the five-kilometer courses.
Given the competition, Ross laid out a plan for Truettner to run with the lead pack as long as he could, and finish strong. Truettner followed the strategy to the letter and held his own to finish fourth with a time of 17 minutes, 25 seconds.
“He had a awesome race against some really tough competition,” says Ross. “Aiden stuck with the lead pack for the first mile and ran a really gutsy race.”
With Conrad Truettner sick, Benjamin Swift was called upon to fill his shoes as the Titans’ second runner. Swift was still reeling from his illness the week prior but gritted his way to a 51st place.
“He was still tired but ran a really smart race, paced it well and made up time at the end,” says Ross.
Vincent Michel lined up for his first varsity race one week after lining up for his first high school race ever in Leadville. Michel made the most of his first varsity showing, placing 57th.
“Vincent is continuing to improve and is a boost to the team as a freshman,” says Ross.
Joe Hayes and Matthew Harper-Johnston rounded out the effort for the boys’ varsity and the team finished the day in eighth place.
“I thought the guys did very, very well,” says Ross.
The sick bug hit the girls as well. Typically Sam Crossett leads the charge for the Titans but was left to gut out her effort with her system depleted. Tara Mortell was called upon and stepped into the team lead role, posting a 25th-place finish with a time of 23:35. Her work also helped pace Crossett to a 26th-place finish right behind her.
“Tara did a really good job picking up the slack,” says Ross.
Freshman Sierra D’Aquila had her best race of the season, running to a 36th-place finish with a time of 25 minutes.
“I’ve never seen her push herself like that,” says Ross.
Caitlin De Compiegne and Mia Shanks fed off of the varsity energy as well to place 39th and 48th overall and helped the girls team to a fifth-place finish.
The Titans will take this week off from races and remain in the valley for further training and a little hometown support.
“We’re going to stay in town, support the teams at homecoming and then do fun mile run at the start of the Cart-to-Cart race,” says Ross.
They return to action on Saturday, September 27 when they head to Grand Junction for the annual Anna Banana.
