Titans cross-country peaking on way to post season

Finishing touches in place for regional race

While runners often don costumes and pair up in a relay race format for the Montrose Relays, the Titans team makes the most of the afternoon to get in one final race-pace workout in preparation for the Regionals on Friday, October 18.
The relays also provide insight for coaches Connie Hayden and Shari Sullivan-Marshall about where exactly their athletes stand in terms of strength and fitness. Furthermore, with runners spread out all over the course the entire race, runners can work on additional race strategy.
“There’s always someone to pass out there so it’s great practice for that,” says Sullivan-Marshall.
It turns out that a majority of the Titans are right on pace and ready to peak in the upcoming post-season. Fourteen Titans made the trip to Montrose and six of them posted personal record times for their mile splits, while eight runners shaved time off their mile splits from earlier this season.
Seniors Kyle Boyle and Danny D’Aquila teamed up to run in their seventh and final Montrose Relays. Boyle posted an average mile time of 5:50 in his splits and D’Aquila a time of 5:45 as they placed third overall among boys’ teams.
“It was a great showing,” says Sullivan-Marshall. “They both looked strong.”
Aiden and Conrad Truettner were the other boys’ team representing the Titans and improved on their mile splits from earlier this season to finish in sixth place overall.
Tara Mortell and Sam Crossett led the charge for the Titans girls, placing seventh out of 21 teams with Elizabeth Kilpatrick and Bradley Santelli joining forces to finish one spot back in eighth.
“Elizabeth and Bradley looked great and both finished with awesome kicks,” says Sullivan-Marshall. “I’m really psyched to see what they can pop this Friday.”
Both the girls and boys have their goals set in place as they head to Delta for the regional race this Friday. The boys’ team needs to place top four at Regionals to qualify for state as a team and the girls need to finish top three. While the goal is attainable for the boys, the girls will have to push hard to make it as a team.
“Everyone’s prepared and should respond well,” says Sullivan-Marshall. “The girls are a bit of a dark horse, they have such a tough region. But, we have the capability. It depends who shows up at the line that day.”
The state championships will be in Colorado Springs on Saturday, October 26.