Buckaroo boys win Chicken Creek Challenge cross country race

by Rhett Sifford
Sports Editor
The Monticello High School cross country teams put together some strong performances in cool, muddy conditions at the annual Chicken Creek Challenge in Mancos, CO on Saturday, October 11.
According to the team results listed on MileSplit.com (which uses a five-runner scoring system) the boys team was third behind Dolores and Ignacio.
But Buckaroo Head Coach Jeff Hunt explains that Utah 1A teams and Colorado 2A teams and below use a four-runner scoring system.
Using a four-runner scoring system the Monticello boys won the race with 33 points, Ignacio took second with 37, and Dolores was third with 39.
Kooper Nielson paced the Buckaroos with a run of 18:21.7 in fourth overall. Nielson was just nine seconds behind race winner Joseph Padilla of Dolores, CO.
Eli Carling was next across the line for the Monticello boys in seventh overall with a solid 19:13.5. Charlie Welch came home tenth in 19:50.5 and Gabe Long rounded out team scoring in 13th with a 20:12.9.
Christian Hunt finished the race in 41st overall for the Buckaroo boys, crossing the line in 24:04.7.
Three girls competed in the race for Monticello, led by Allie Carling in eighth place overall with a performance of 23:55.4. Brenna Baxter was 24th overall in 28:59.8, and Xymenah Alvarado came home 32nd in 31:22.3.
The Buckaroo harriers are gearing up for the Region 19 Championship, which they will host at Loyds Lake this Thursday, October 16. The state meet is scheduled for October 28-29 at Sugarhouse Park in Salt Lake City.