The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Titans double down this weekend
By Than Acuff
The Crested Butte Titans cross-country team returned to action Friday, September 26 at Sweitzer Lake in Delta and while the girls team continues to look for their rhythm, the boys team ran to a fourth-place finish, top among their 2A peers.
The Titans took a break from racing the previous weekend and with no race to prep for last weekend, the coaches used the opportunity to focus their efforts in areas needed.
“We added just a little bit of volume, longer intervals,” says coach Shari Sullivan-Marshall. “We have so many seniors at year four that they can handle more. It’s also nice to have a weekend of no travel to regroup and get back going.”
While illness did rear its ugly head again affecting both teams, but more so the girls, the Titans were looking to put in a fast effort in Delta based on their experience last year on the same course.
Conditions last year were dry and dusty, and apparently smelly, yet the boys team posted seven personal record (PR) times and the girls three PRs. This year though, hopes and expectations were somewhat dashed as the course included one sandy section that had runners struggling to find proper traction.
The girls’ runners lined up first and while freshman Dari Spedden is used to having some teammates near her, the aforementioned illnesses had her all alone in the starting area. Despite the potential intimidation, Spedden looked confident in her effort leading the girls’ team with a 15th place finish.
“She ran so aggressive and so calm,” says Sullivan-Marshall. “She’s been working so hard and it’s paying off.”
Sophia Bender, Ilo Hawley and Jaycee Deroche were next followed by Eva Loflin, who was battling some breathing issues, Aubrey Laird and Ainsley Stewart finished off the Titans’ effort with Stewart posting a new PR in her first year of racing.
The boys’ team was missing one key runner of their team scoring points but still rallied as Cody Pleak led the Titans with a seventh-place finish while Max Sullivan and Flint Hoyt cracked the top 20 placing 12th and 17th respectively. Jayden Beyer continued his consistent efforts week in and week out to be the next Titan across the line to score team points and Jackson Moore set a new PR by 25 seconds and broke the 20-minute mark to help the Titans team to the fourth-place finish.
“He’s just a smart racer,” says Sullivan-Marshall.
The remaining Titans continued to get their race legs and strategy dialed in with Merrick Jeffery setting a new bar for perseverance crashing early in the race but running through the pain to finish.
“He gets the Red Cross Award,” says Sullivan-Marshall. “It could have easily thrown his game, but he still ran really well.”
With illnesses tapering and workouts continuing, the Titans look to be near full strength for their big weekend coming up as they double down on races to continue honing their race craft. They will head to Delta to run in the Pantherfest on Friday, October 3 and then make a U-turn to race in Salida on Saturday, October 4.
“It gives them a completely different experience,” says Sullivan-Marshall. “They just need more experience racing, and they just need to race and know their pace.”
