The Pagosa Springs High School Pirate cross-country teams will spring into action for the season on Saturday with a race in Silverton.
This year’s squad has 20 runners, according to coach Rachael Christiansen, who notes in an email to The SUN there is a good mix between veteran runners and new runners, with nine returning runners and 11 new runners.
“The boys’ team has some strong runners returning with Jesse Beck, Peyton Jackson, Dylan Dempster, Connor Thomas, and Isaac Hanto,” the coach highlights. “Those 5 boys are experienced and we’re excited to have them back and see what they can do out there. We are also excited about our new runners which include freshman Jacen Easling and Merrick Tudor, sophomore Stetson Osborn, and junior Eli Nehring. Each of these runners have done middle school cross country and/or track. So they do have experience running and know what it takes to be successful in cross. I think this year we will see most of these boys running in a pack together, which can be a very good tactic when racing.”
Christiansen also notes there are several runners returning on the girls’ side who are looking to start the season strong.
“On the girls’ side, we have Sienna Rose, Hailey Sams, Kaiya Lyons, and Madi Stretton returning. These 4 girls are tough and have been consistent in their training this summer and are all looking very strong to start the season,” she wrote. “We are also excited to have 7 new female runners this year! We have new freshmen Vivy DavRem, Mila Miller, and Bella Jackson joining us. Gwen Tyler and Jenavieve Betts are new sophomores, Addison Johnson is a new junior, and Kate Cernosek is a new senior to the team! Some have experience in middle school cross or track and some are brand new to the sport and we are looking forward to watching them grow each week!”
The teams unofficially kicked off the season with the annual trip to the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve recently, with the Christiansen indicating the trip sets the tone for the season and 11 runners attended.
“[W]e ran, played, and got stronger as individuals and as a team. Every year each team carries their ‘burden’ to the highest dune and this year both teams set new records by making it up in 27:49 for the boys and 29:10 for the girls,” she wrote. “It was amazing to see them work together, encourage each other, and ultimately do something incredibly difficult together. This experience set the tone for the season and we are looking forward to breaking new records and accomplishing big things [together]!”
The harriers will open their race season with a 9:45 a.m. “low-key” race in Salida on Saturday, Aug. 24.
“This is our first time racing here and we are really looking forward to it,” Christiansen wrote. “This race will be a much more low-key race with no official timing or team awards. Instead, both boys and girls will be racing together at 9:45 and coaches will be responsible for timing,” Christiansen wrote.
The coach indicated she believes a strength of the boys’ team will be its pack running.
“They will be able to push each other during practices and at races they will be close together, adding on multiple points to each person they pass,” she wrote.
She added the girls’ squad has some strong, experienced runners who are likely to help the newer runners grow quickly.
“We think some of these girls will fill into our top 7 quite nicely,” she adds.
Schedule
The following schedule was accurate as of press time, but is subject to change.
After opening the season in Silverton, the Pirate teams will head to Durango on Aug. 31 for a 9 a.m. race.
The harriers will take part in the Joe Vigil Meet in Alamosa on Sept. 7 beginning at 10 a.m.
On Sept. 14, the teams will race in Bayfield beginning at 10 a.m.
On Sept. 20, the Pirates will race in Dolores beginning at 10 a.m.
The Pirates will host a meet on Oct. 5 beginning at 10 a.m. on Reservoir Hill.
On Oct. 12, the teams will head to Mancos for races beginning at 11 a.m.
The Pirates will close out the regular season on Oct. 18 in Monte Vista, with races for the Eric Wolff Invitational beginning at 10 a.m.
Following the regular season, the Pirates will head to regionals hosted by Lamar.
randi@pagosasun.com
