The Rye High School cross country team ran two races in three days. Head Coach T.J. Blackhurst described the events as “tough races in very different ways.”
“The Canon City race (September 29) was very hot and started with a long hill up and through the campground area and then looped back down across the bridge,” described Blackhurst.
David Maroney placed 59th for the Thunderbolts in a time of 20:37.60. Devin Chappel of Garden City (Ks.) High School won the event.
Garden City also won the team championship. Rye placed 11th, out of 28 teams.
Garret George ran the event in 21:26.10 to place 79th.
Colton Hendrickson placed 97th in a time of 22:07.90.
One Hundred and eightyone runners finished the event.
Timothy Blackhurst placed 114th in a time of 22:56.90.
Jayden Engler was 118th in a time of 23:05.90. Carter Ford ran the event in 28:34.80 and placed 169th and in 176th was Thomas Blackhurst who finished in a time of 32:43.90. Mylee Garner led the Lady-T’s with a 65th place finish in a time of 26:07.60. Willow Lott of Durango won the race which saw 130 runner’s finish. Ivey McAlhany placed 112th for Rye in a time of 31:03.30.
Clara Chandler ran the course in 31:49.00 and placed 120th and Gwendolyn Larson finished 128th in a time of 38:45.30.
Durango won the team championship.
A dozen Craver Middle School runners also competed at Canon City.
Maya Lyle placed second in a time of 10:11.10 in the girls’ event. JD Windle placed 13th in a time of 10:20.50 for the boys. The Craver Middle School boys placed 3rd as a team.
Rye opened up October in Salida.
“We had a new challenge with a notoriously tough hill right in the middle of the course,” shared Blackhurst.
“We only had one personal record,” continued Blackhurst. “But compared to our competition we fared pretty well. Salida, but compared to our competition we all fared pretty well. It was a tough back-to-back and our kids responded well.”
Maroney led placers for the Thunderbolts with a 24th place finish in a time of 19:09.90. David Flaig of Regis Jesuit won the event which featured 169 runners.
Garret George placed 90th with a time of 21:32.80 and Colton Hendrickson finished 97th with a time of 21:45.70.
Timothy Blackhurst finished in a time of 22:17.30 which was good for 116th.
Carter Ford was the only Tbolt boy who set a personal record in the two races. He finished 167th in a time of 26:37.40. Thomas Blackhurst ran the course in 30:16.30 to place 167th.
Garner again placed highest for the girls with a 70th place finish in a time of 26:13.10.
Sarah DeLaCerde from Alamosa was the medalist.
Clara Chandler ran the course in 29:44.70 which was 106th. Ivey McAlhany was 110th in a time of 31:28.80.
Gwendolyn Larson was the only T-bolt girl to set a personal best. She placed 117th in a time of 34:30.30.
Next race for the Thunderbolts will be in Pueblo next Wednesday, October 12th.