Runners compete at home

A two-day, four meet cross country invite at Pioneer Trails Picnic Grounds near the Ciner facility gave high school runners a challenge last week. Green River runners Madison Yoak and Greg Sherwin were able to post times in the top 10 finishers Saturday evening.

The course is one of the most difficult high school runners will face this season, combining stretches of dirt and gravel with sand, as well as a few hills. While he said only one parent complained about the course, head cross country coach Craig Leavitt said the course represents true cross country competition.

"This is cross country, not golf. We don't always compete on golf courses. This is what a real cross country course looks like," he said.

Leavitt said the kids were prepared and ran the course well.

"But, even our kids sometimes fall in meets, like Evin Hansen this weekend, who fell down on the last hill before the finish line. Evin did the right thing after falling. He popped right back up and sprinted to the finish line," Leavitt said.

For the girls, the most impressive finish came from Rawlins' Sydney Thorvaldson, who finished at 18:41.02, nearly 2 minutes and 48 seconds before the second-place runner, Muriel Jones of Jackson, finished at 21:28.82. Yoak placed sixth in the competition, finishing at 22:35.36. The next two finishers for GRHS were Madison Bauers, 20th, at 24:01.72 and Jayleight Wright, 49th, at 26:05.13. The girls took seventh as a team, scoring 172 points. The placed higher than Rock Springs, Lyman and Riverton.

For the boys, Sherwin finished seventh at 18:31.97, with the next GRHS finishers being Nathan Stevenson, 32nd, at 19:57.79 and Ezekiel Reading, 33rd, at 20:00.21. Overall, the Green River boys placed sixth with 163 points, besting Mountain View, Thunder Basin, Riverton, Rawlins and Campbell County.

Levitt said the girls team exceeded his expectations.

"The girls team size has doubled from last year and they have grown as a team to become competitive," he said. "We are very excited to see what they are capable of at state."

Results

Girls

6. Madison Yoak, 22:35.36

20. Madison Bauers, 24:01.72

49. Jayleight Wright, 26:05.13

54. Madison Murdock, 26:28.99

92. Shelby Carson, 33:31.49

94. Tayana Eychner, 35:37.88

98. Bela Dittman, 39:47.90

99. Lydia Westenskow, 40:09.41

Boys

7. Greg Sherwin, 18:31.97

32. Nathan Stevenson, 19:57.79

33. Ezekiel Reading, 20:00.21

40. Evin Hansen, 20:34.76

67. Shay O'Melia, 21:50.93

70. Hale Iwen, 22:11.94

81. Lucas Knight, 23:45.95

100. Kyle Kight, 25:18.74

118. Troy Owens, 27:23.21

123. Kaden Gailey, 27:55.91