Bluejays compete at Colorado College
The Tabor cross country team found the competition a lot tougher Sept. 13 at the Colorado College Invitational at Colorado Springs than what it had in its season opener at Baker.
Chilly temperatures, combined with a 6000-feet elevation, made it harder yet for the Bluejays in the respective five- and eight-kilometer races for the women's and men's team.
Despite the women finishing 11th out of 14 teams and the men taking sixth out of 11, Bluejay coach Karol Hunt had nothing but good things to say about her team's performances against the grueling competition.
"We ran into some really stiff competition," Hunt said. "I think the times we posted were reflective of where we are at this point of the season.
"It was our first full distance races, we ran at 6000 feet and race time temperatures were in the 40s. I really liked our effort with all those factors thrown together."
Division II power Adams State (Colo.) ran away with the competition in both the men's and women's classes.
Adams State's women's team beat out runner-up University of Colorado-Colorado Springs by a comfy 19-44 margin while the men beat UCCS, 18-50.
The Lady Bluejays earned 234 points with the men coming in a meager point in back of fifth-place finisher Colby Community College's 160.
The winning women's time of 18:01 while 25:30 was the best finish in the men's division.
"Those are both outstanding times, especially this early in the season," said Hunt. "We seldom see those times in our meets."
Making a return back home to her native state, the temperature and high altitude had the least effect on Angie Jost.
Jost notched the top finish for the women's team, coming in 29th out of 91 finishers.
Jost's time of 20:20 was 10 seconds quicker than the time she needed to qualify for NAIA Academic All-American honors.
Look for her to breathe a sigh of relief now that she met that standard in her first 5K race.
Freshman Kendra Raber came in second for the women in with a 67th place time of 23:16.
Pete Richert paced the men's team in the 103- competitor's field with a 55th place time of 30:17.
Jeff Anenson was hot on Pete's tail, running a 57th place 30:28 race.
Kyle and Kevin Larson proved an exciting race, finishing in 64th and 65th with respective times of 31:05 and 31:06.
By mid-season, Hunt looks for all four of the freshmen men (Pete Richert, Anenson and the Larson) to be running under 30 minutes.
Next up for the Bluejays will be Sept. 27 at the Bluejay Invitational run at Cottonwood Point at Marion Reservoir.
Women begin at 10 a.m. with the men starting 40 minutes later.
Women's results
29. Jost, 20:20. 67. Raber, 23:16. 77. Sarah Frick, 24:58. 78. Esther Richert, 25:02. 85. Jennie Throne, 25:40.
Men's
55. P. Richert, 30:17. 57. Anenson, 30:28. 64. Kyle Larson, 31:05. 65. Kevin Larson, 31:06. 71. Ryan Sperling, 31:38. 73. Matt Lynam, 32:09. 82. Will Higerd, 34:03.
