Strong runs at state cross country race for Raiders and Cougars

Competing on a fairly flat 5K course doesn’t sound too difficult for most seasoned runners. But that changes when you factor in the added difficulty and pressure of that course being the state meet, a race each cross country runner has been training for months to compete in.

Whitehorse and Monument Valley runners didn’t let the pressure affect them, however, and both teams finished well at the Regional Athletic Complex at Rose Park in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, October 27.

First up to race in the 1A Championships were the girls teams. Heidi Thomas was the sole female on either team to finish. Thomas, racing for Whitehorse, finished in 16th place with a time of 22:58 to close out her high school career.

In the boys race, the Whitehorse Raiders (composed primarily of seniors) raced to a tenth-place team finish. Weston Manygoats was the first Raider to come in. His quick time of 17:33 was good enough to guarantee him a third-place finish and all-state honors.

Following Manygoats were Keeyah Begay and Brett James. Begay finished in 43rd with a time of 19:29, while Brett James finished 55th in 20:05.

Nicholas Pelt followed James as he finished in 92nd and a time of 24:02. Following Pelt, and rounding out the runners for the Raiders was Robryan Tapaha in 101st with a time of 27:50.

For the Monument Valley team (composed mostly of underclassmen), Keshawn Atene led the way with his 87th-place finish in 22:59.

Only one place back from Atene was Jeremiah Singer who crossed the line in 88th with a time of 23:11. Levander Hicks followed Atene with a 102nd-place finish and a time of 28:03.

Darian John rounded out the team with a 105th place finish and a time of 29:07. Congratulations to every runner who competed!