Titans cross-country team sets sights on post season

“Both the boys and girls teams have a good chance at going to state”

The informal but competitive setting of the Montrose Relays make for the perfect cross-country event to keep athletes working but relaxed, as they prepare for the upcoming post season.
The Montrose Relays are not your typical cross-country race as athletes are put together in teams of two and switch off running three one-mile laps for a total of six laps—costumes encouraged.
“It’s the AJ of cross-country running,” says Crested Butte coach Connie Hayden. “We’re wrapping up the quality training for the season and it’s a really fun way to do a quality workout. I’d do the same thing with the kids in practice anyway.”
Coaches pair up two-person teams, either gender-specific or mixed gender, for the relays. Hayden matched her teams based upon their mile split times, throwing two coed teams, one boys team and two girls teams into the mix of more than 125 teams.
While the event does have a fun element, Hayden still sets goals for her runners in Montrose. With so many athletes there, the scene remains competitive.
“The atmosphere is totally electric and the kids end up going out way too fast on the first lap,” says Hayden. “Everyone had target times to shoot for, and everyone nailed them for the most part.”
The top Titan team, comprised of senior Erin Kelly and freshman Ian Boucher, ran away with their race, taking first place out of 48 coed teams.
“They totally rocked it,” says Hayden.
Sophomore Amber Scott and freshman Forrest Smith teamed up to place seventh in the coed race.
Hayden pulled together senior Jeff Hargrove and freshman Kyle Boyle for the boys race and the two battled back and forth together, emerging with a 29th-place finish out of 41 teams.
Titan sister act of senior Jena and junior Jessie D’Aquila led the girls team with a 21st-place finish as freshmen Harper Griffin and Jessie Dean teamed up to take 32nd overall.
Hayden and the team are now gearing up for regionals on Saturday, October 23 in Montezuma-Cortez. Based on their performance two weeks ago on the same course and their efforts in Montrose, Hayden has high hopes as they head into the post season. A win by the girls and a top two finish by the boys will send them to the big show.
“Everything was confirmed that they are strong, fit and fast,” says Hayden. “They’re right on track for a stellar performance at regionals and goals are set. Both the boys and girls teams have a good chance at going to state.”