The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Bringing the heat in nearly all disciplines
After crushing their league opponents last weekend, the Crested Butte Titans track team competed in the Cedaredge Invitational this past weekend and got a glimpse of what’s going on among the larger programs in the state.
“There was some pretty stiff competition there,” says coach Dustin Simoens. “I think it was good. It was kind of an eye-opener.”
“It’s good to have that competition,” adds coach Ann Pederson. “After the Center meet, a meet like this one shows them they are good, but they now need to be better.”
While the 2A Titans track team spent a majority of the meet lining up against athletes from 3A and 4A programs, they used the competition to push themselves as a handful of Titans set new personal record times and reached goals set prior to the season. In addition, the Titans rattled off a slew of podium finishes and racked up key points for the team throughout the day.
“The kids looked fantastic,” says Pederson. “They represented well.”
“We had a couple athletes knock off a chunk of time,” says Simoens.
Aiden Truettner knocked off two personal goals in one day in the distance events, breaking the five-minute mark in the mile to finish in eighth place and then crack 11 minutes in the two-mile to place third. The effort earned him the coveted Golden Shoe Award.
“For him to do both in the same day was great,” says Pederson.
Rain Landry continued to blaze his way in the 200 meters with a second-place finish among the big dogs. He then joined Shawnee Landry, Dakota Wiggins and Kaleb Schultz in the 4×200-meter relay to finish in third place.
Schultz is also closing in on a state bid in the 100 meters and placed sixth in Cedaredge.
“Kaleb’s on the cusp of posting a qualifying time,” says Simoens.
The girls’ side of the Titans team saw its share of success as well. Monika Olesen and Rosie Ewert are establishing themselves as a potent one-two punch in the sprints. Olesen placed third in the 100 meters with Ewert right behind her in fourth. Olesen then posted a fourth-place finish in the 400 meters, running a 62.58 and, according to Pederson, is just a second off of breaking the school record.
“That was outstanding,” says Pederson. “We haven’t seen someone post a time that fast in that event this early in the season.”
Ewert and Olesen then teamed up with Tara Mortell and Ali McGuire to set a personal record in the 4×100-meter relay and place third.
“Our relays are our strongest events,” says Pederson. “We have really strong individuals and they make up some strong relay teams and both the girls and boys relays are vying for state.”
Shannon Costello led the charge in the 800 meters for the Titans with a second-place finish and was a part of the 4×800-meter relay team that finished in fifth place.
The Titans will get more training on the track in Gunnison this week as they prepare for the Frank Woodburn Invitational this Saturday in Grand Junction.
“It’s really good to get these kids on the track and I think we’ll start seeing times continue to come down,” says Simoens.
