Boys cross-country dominates Gunnison Invitational

Forrest Smith runs away with first win of season

After spending the past three weeks racing 4A programs from around the state, primarily Front Range powerhouses, the Crested Butte Titans cross-country team toed the line with their 2A and 3A peers with a couple 4A programs thrown in for good measure. It was the first time they had a true indication of where they stood among similar size programs and in the case of the boys’ team, the Titans stand at the top as they took the team title at the Gunnison Invitational on Saturday, September 14. It was the first team win for the Titans boys’ program since they won the state title back in 2011.
With that in mind, both coach Connie Hayden and coach Shari Sullivan Marshall did have some high hopes for their boys.
“We were still going against some big dogs but no one from the Front Range,” says Hayden. “We were hoping for a win but we stay clear of expectations.”
The Gunnison course, while flatter than most, does have its challenges and has caused the Titans some fits in past years. This year, the boys’ team rose to the challenge.
“This course is really tough for us mentally,” explains Hayden. “The finish is kind of brutal. But the kids were still able to go mind over matter, or body over mind really, and kill it.”
Senior Forrest Smith stood out above the entire field following his pre-race plan to the letter to win the race in a time of 17 minutes and four seconds, 35 seconds faster than his time on the same course last year.
The plan for Smith was to hang with the lead pack for the first two miles and then shift into overdrive in the final mile of the race.
Smith did just that, running alongside two other runners from Salida and Telluride and once he kicked into high gear, no one could keep up as he pressed all the way to the finish line.
“We wanted him to build not just a small gap but a 15 to 20 second gap and he dropped them both,” says Hayden.
Sophomore Aiden Truettner continues to shatter his times from his freshman year every weekend. Truettner shaved over three minutes off his time on the same course last year to place 11th with a time of 18:39 with senior Danny D’Aquila 20 seconds back in 13th place.
“To have both of those guys running in the 18s at this point in the season is significant,” says Hayden.
With three runners in the top 15, a team title was definitely in the works but in the end it was up to senior Kyle Boyle.
Boyle posted a time of 19:23 on the five-kilometer course to place 21st and seal the boys’ team title.
“I was screaming at the kids that every single point counted and to go for it and they did, which was phenomenal,” says Hayden.
The girls’ team was missing a couple runners in seniors Shannon Costello and Mina Moscatelli but senior Elizabeth Kilpatrick picked up the slack. Kilpatrick has been struggling with her pre-race regimen all season, often showing up for the start already depleted. As a result, the coaches adjusted her warm-up and the change made all the difference as she posted a personal record time of 23 minutes, 18 seconds to place 16th.
“She was wound up like a top at the start and had her best race ever,” says Hayden.
Sophomore Sam Crossett teamed up with Kilpatrick through the entire race to post a personal record time of 23:31 and finish in 17th place.
“It was a great dynamic between the two of them,” says Hayden.
Sophomores Tara Mortell and Sienna Brooks closed out the girls’ varsity effort to score team points finishing in 24th and 39th place respectively.
“The girls are getting more fit every week and making progress for sure,” says Hayden.
The Titans will head to Ridgway on Friday, September 20 for the Ramble at the Reservoir, a course that includes a half-mile long climb complete with steps and switchbacks.
“We’re heading back into the hills, which the kids love,” says Hayden.