David Maroney picked up a bronze medal at the Salida Cross Country Classic on the final day of September.
Maroney ran the 5000-meter course in a time of 18:35. Ezekial Wilcox of host team Salida crossed the finish line to win the event, about a minute ahead of Maroney in a time of 17:36.
Columbine took the team championship in the boys’ division with 61 points. Rye finished 10th of the 13 teams with a score of 249.
Timmy Blackhurst finished 41st for Rye in a time of 20:55. Colton Hendricksen came in 82nd in a time of 23:01 and a single second behind him was teammate Justin Siudyla who finished 84th. Just behind Siudyla was Jayden Englert who finished 85th with a time of 23:10. Carter Ford ran the course in a time of 25:37 and finished 105th in the field of 120 runners.
Maroney currently has the 21st best time in the 2A class in the state.
Katie Prichard was the top Thunderbolt finisher in the girls’ class with a 52nd place finish of the 103 girls who ran. Prichard had a time of 26:16. Maren Anderson of Columbine was the gold medal winner in a time of 20:52.
Mylee Garner ran the course in a time of 26:55 and placed 60th.
Adriel Snyder was 63rd in a time of 27:19.
Audrey Bowler was 82nd in a time of 28:48 and Clara Chandler had a time of 32:24 and placed 92nd.
Team winner in the girls’ division was host team Salida with 28 points. Rye placed 9th of the nine girls’ teams with 250 points.
Head Coach T.J. Blackhurst was pleased. “Salida is one of those meets where kids aren’t going to get any personal records but still have some very solid performances. David Maroney went head-to-head with Rocky Ford's Josh Snyder, who is one of the top runners from our region.
David was able to come out victorious, finishing third overall.
He was edged out by two very solid Salida runners.”
Next action for Rye is the Pueblo City Championships which will be held on October 11th at Elmwood Golf Course in Pueblo.