Cross Country JV Boys take home first place win

The Green River High School Cross Country team faced more competition and tough conditions last week, but came away with some exciting wins.

The Wolves headed to Ethete for the Chief Nation Invitationals hosted by Wyoming Indian High School last Friday. Green River faced a total of 13 other teams, going up against groups from Wyoming Indian, Wind River, Lander, Rawlins, Saratoga, Thermopolis, Burlington, Fort Washakie, Lovell, and St. Stephens, as well as two out of state teams coming from Manila, Utah and Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota. The invite was also extra challenging due to the weather.

"It was really hot out, so they struggled in the heat," Head Coach Craig Leavitt explained. "We haven't had heat like that yet, especially during a race, so that was a good thing for all the young kids to learn how to run when it's hot."

Despite the challenges, the Wolves worked hard and had a successful meet. Green River's biggest victory was when the Junior Varsity boys won their division. Four JV boys finished in the top 10, and the team took first overall against five other teams.

With most of the Wolves' JV runners being freshmen, Coach Leavitt was impressed with their big finishes and ultimate victory.

"It was their first time getting to compete as a JV team, so they were pretty stoked," he said. "I don't think they realized...just how good they are for their age."

Leavitt said it will be an exciting four years as these freshmen continue to compete.

For the Varsity boys, Jesse Kimble led the team, coming in just one spot away from placing after finishing in 11th place. The team finished in the middle of the overall team results, coming in fifth out of nine.

The girls did well at the meet also, with both Varsity and JV girls running together in one race. They finished third out of five teams overall. Isabelle Murdock and Ellie Quiroz led the team, both finishing in the top 10. It was also Lily Harris's first meet that she participated in, and Coach Leavitt said she ran well, especially since "she got a full dose of how hard cross country can be."

This week, the Wolves will head back to that side of the state again to compete at the Riverton Invite, which Leavitt said is one the athletes particularly enjoy as it's at the rendezvous site.

With a few meets under their belts now, the cross country athletes are both "settling in" and "feeling it," according to Coach Leavitt, but they're still "hanging in pretty tough."

Chief Nation Invitationals Results

JV BOYS

2nd - Cade Toolson, 22:02.04

3rd - Jeramiah Musbach, 22:14.87

7th - Ryan Kranz, 22:34.43

9th - Brake Covington, 22:35.91

39th - Alekzandar Johnson, 27:42.57

43rd - Kayden Brueckner, 30:41.40

VARSITY BOYS

11th - Jesse Kimble, 19:19.99

18th - Tavin Vendetti, 20:27.04

27th - Jordan Andrew, 20:58.23

30th - Hunter Rushing, 21:29.98

33rd - Adren Lamb, 21:39.17

45th - Isaiah Still, 23:25.51

GIRLS

4th - Isabelle Murdock, 23:33.24

9th - Ellie Quiroz, 24:55.70

16th - Lily Murdock, 27:24.26

19th - Meeka Iwen, 27:28.21

26th - Lily Harris, 31:02.65

27th - Kaylee MacLagan, 31:06.51