The Rye High School Cross Country team opened their season at the friendly confines of the Hollydot West Golf Course as they hosted the Rye Thunderbolt Invitational 2023.
Ten teams competed in the boys’ division with Manitou Springs winning the team title led by a number one finish by Manitou’s Cody Kelley, who ran the course in 17:44.47.
The Thunderbolts finished 6th as a team. Top finisher for Rye was David Maroney who placed 7th with a time of 18:57.64.
Timmy Blackhurst finished the 5K course in a time of 22:03.69 and placed 31st. Hyrum Person placed 33rd in a time of 22:58.36. Carter Ford ran the course in 28:31.41 and placed 56th.
Tommy Blackhurst came in right behind Ford in 57th in a time of 28:40.71 Nine teams participated in the girls’ part of the event. Alamosa claimed the team title with both a first and second place showing in the individual category. Sarah Delacerda was the gold medal winner in a time of 20:10.84.
Katie Prichard topped the charts for Rye with a 35th place finish in a time of 31:44.52.
Mylee Garner ran the course in 34:22.76 and placed 44th.
Clara Chandler finished 48th in a time of 36:42.26. Adrel Snyder rounded out the team results with a 51st place finish in 39:57.37. Rye placed 8th as a team.
“I thought we had a very good showing all things considered,” shared Head Coach T.J. Blackhurst. “Katie Prichard led the girls in her very first cross-country race and we are just going to look for continued improvement there.”
“ The record high temperatures that day were unexpected,” Blackhurst continued, “but we fought through it and performed anyways. David Maroney was definitely the star of the show today, and I think he surprised himself a little with a 5:04 split at the one-mile mark. He did fall off a little after that, but I think as he gets stronger throughout the season, he has a very good chance of getting his times down into the 17's, and maybe even a shot at the RHS record held by his older brother Nick Maroney.” Next action for the Rye Team will be the Pueblo Central Pete Feletta Individual which will be held at Elmwood next Saturday, August 26th beginning at 9 a.m.