Titans track runs with big dogs in Salida

“We’re really excited about the lineup we’ve put together”

By Than Acuff 

The Crested Butte Titans track team jumped into the bigger pool to match wits with 3A and 4A schools at the Salida Invitational on Saturday, April 1 and came away with more personal records as well as some top results across the board.

The day got off to a hectic start as one race in particular was moved and when the Titans arrived, they found out the meet was opening with the 3200-meter run for both the girls and the boys.

“It was a little chaotic,” says coach Shari Sullivan-Marshall. 

The Titans rode above the chaos though to get the day off to a great start as Ruby Pendy took second and Josie Feier took third place in the girls’ race and Flint Hoyt took fourth place in the boys’ race. It was the first 3,200-meter race for both Hoyt and Feier, but Sullivan-Marshall had an idea they had it in them.

“I put them in partly because they were interested in it and also knowing their strengths from cross-country,” says Sullivan-Marshall. “It was a great way to start off the meet.”

Relays have been on the forefront of the Titans’ team attack as their roster numbers allow them to line up teams in every event. Unfortunately, the relay teams still have some things to work on as limited training time on an actual track caused some issues in Salida with handoffs.

“We definitely had a mixed bag,” says Sullivan-Marshall. 

Yet, amidst the miscues, there were some highlights as well as freshmen Sophia Bender, Ilo Hawley, Maryn Pritchett and Feier finished fifth in the girls 4×800-meters while sophomores Giles Billick, Kenny and Sam Bullock and Jake Pendy ran to a third place finish. Bender, Feier, Poppie Pleak and Hawley also teamed up to score more points for the Titans with a seventh place finish in the 4×400-meter race.

Several Titans sprinters and hurdlers threw down personal best times despite the wind led by Bender who finished sixth in the 300-meter hurdles and the team continued to build on their field event presence with nine jumpers and throwers.

“We’ve had jumpers in the past, now we have throwers,” says Sullivan-Marshall. “It’s just really fun to have field events and they have a really good attitude about it. Most of them are ninth and tenth graders so I’m excited to see them grow.”

After a stellar start to the day in the 3,200-meters, the Titans maintained their pace and effort in the 1,600-meter races. Ruby was embroiled in the tactics of her opponents for the first half of the race but eventually broke away from the field to place second.

“It was a super tactical race, they went out really slow to start,” says Sullivan-Marshall. “We learned a lot.”

Sam scored points for the Titans in his 1,600-meter effort picking off numerous runners midway through the race to kick his way to a seventh place finish.

Crested Butte is headed to Grand Junction this weekend and the coaches are taking the opportunity at warmer weather and a track to get in a practice in Grand Junction on Friday before they race in the Frank Woodburn Invitational on Saturday, April 8.

“I’m looking forward to Grand Junction,” says Sullivan-Marshall. “We’re really excited about the lineup we’ve put together.”