The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
“We’re putting the finishing touches on the quality training”
The Titans cross-country team headed to the southwest part of the state last weekend to run the Ancient Trails Invitational for a preview of the regional venue and their competition.
What they found was to their pleasing and they look to make their mark at the regional race at the same venue in two weeks.
The Ancient Trails course threw a variety of features at the runners with roots, rocks, ravines, a small cliff to climb up as well as local flora and fauna, i.e. tarantulas and tumbleweeds. Midway through the trail, athletes were hit with a steep climb and descent before closing with one kilometer of flat dirt road.
“We warned everyone about that last stretch,” says coach Connie Hayden. “They needed to transition into the flat and treat it like an interval. It’s a mental shift for sure.”
Senior Erin Kelly returned to the top spot. Kelly held her own against the top runners in the state last weekend in Boulder, finishing in 11th place. Last weekend at the Ancient Trails Invitational Kelly followed a more subdued strategy. While Kelly typically jumps out in front early in the race, coaches Hayden and Shari Sullivan Marshall suggested she take it easy at the start and see how it goes.
“We told her to just stay with the leaders for the first mile and see how she felt,” says Hayden.
As a result, Kelly paced herself through the first part of the race before taking the lead for good, finishing the five-kilometer course in a time of 20 minutes, 11 seconds—a comfortable 20 seconds ahead of her closest competitor.
“It was nice to see her back on top,” says Hayden.
Sophomore Amber Scott made the most of the final one-kilometer flat section. After working her way into 11th place through the first four kilometers, Scott hit the final stretch with gas in the tank and dropped the hammer, passing five people in the final kilometer to finish in sixth place with a time of 21 minutes and 52 seconds.
Sophomore Abby Whiting and senior Hannah Smith rounded out the effort for the Titans in the varsity race, coming in 19th and 32nd, respectively.
The big story for the girl’s team came in the JV race though. JV athletes run the same course and sophomore Taylor O’Neal ran away from the field to take first place in a time of 24 minutes and 32 seconds, over a minute faster than her previous personal record.
“She had an amazing race. She just sustained her effort,” says Hayden.
While the girls’ team didn’t place all that strong—they were missing freshman phenom Mina Moscatelli—they did out-kick two teams they’ll see at regionals.
“The girls did really well against Telluride and Mancos, which are our top two regional competitors,” says Hayden.
After being sidelined for three weeks with a nagging IT band, freshman Ian Boucher returned to action last weekend. The loss of training and competition showed at the Ancient Trails race and while the return was short of triumphant, the race fueled Boucher’s fire for the post season.
“It’s always a good learning experience to have a tough race,” says Hayden. “He wasn’t on that day but now he’s ready for redemption.”
Freshman Forrest Smith continues his solid season, crossing the finish line of the slow course just 12 seconds off his personal best and freshman Kyle Boyle set another personal record time, gaining speed with each week.
The team heads to Montrose this week for the Montrose Relays, a “fun” race, before returning to the Ancient Trails course for regionals on Saturday, October 23.
“We’re putting the finishing touches on the quality training,” says Hayden. “Morale is very high and we’re looking forward to bringing the focus back for regionals and then state.”
