Having "fresh legs" is often key to any team's athletic success.
But particularly so during the grind of a cross-country running season.
Blessed with a few new pairs to reinforce his high-mileage returning core, Bayfield High head coach Josh Walton is hoping for exciting results this fall - mostly a larger state championships contingent.
"I want everyone to just do their best," he said Tuesday evening.
"Obviously, I would love to qualify for State, but we have some new challenges," he noted. "We run against the same region as last year, but we add Rifle, Steamboat (Springs), Delta and (Montezuma-)Cortez. So we're going to be competing against schools that are twice our size."
"And not only that, but in previous years at the regional they took the top five teams and the top 15 individuals. This year, being that they've reclassified the entire state.you can only qualify with the top four or top-15. So it's a little more competitive."
The Class 3A-Region I championships, set for Oct. 21 in Delta, are in the distant future; the Wolverine harriers' preparations since officially beginning work on Aug. 15 have been for today's Cheyenne Mountain Stampede in Colorado Springs. The meet kicks off, respectively, the 74th and 39th CHSAA-sanctioned boys' and girls' cross-country campaigns.
"Me and our two assistant coaches were at the high school Monday, Wednesday, Friday, all summer.it wasn't really required that the kids attend; we recommended it," Walton said. Assistants this year are Melissa Kaufmann and Mike Scalet.
"But we had some kids that were there every day, some kids that came once, twice a week. So it varied from kid to kid."
"Right now we have 16 kids - nine girls and seven boys - which is enough to basically field just a varsity," he stated, possibly referencing CHSAA's maximum of runners (seven, with the top five scoring) comprising a state-bound boys' or girls' team. "I have a pretty good group of seniors back, and a few underclassmen.but not a lot."
Leading BHS into the state-previewing Stampede this weekend will unquestionably be its lone veteran of the 2015 state meet, Bridget Goddard.
"I see her doing really good things this year," Walton said of the senior, who placed 92nd at last fall's grand finale in Colorado Springs as Bayfield's only rep, male or female. "She'll probably be the leader on the girls' side."
"And we gained Skyla Ruybal-she's a senior - and Claire Hufnagel, a freshman," he added. "She was a front-runner on our middle-school team, so it'll be interesting to watch as she develops through her four years."
Junior Sloan Mazur, after another intensive off-season, returns and should pace the Wolverine boys. "Mazur.he actually went to a camp this summer, for a week, that was really good for him," said Walton. "Last year he went to Boulder and this year he went to Gunnison," to the High Altitude Cross-Country Camp hosted by Western State Colorado University.
"We're also really excited that we've gained two senior boys that were on the track team last year," Walton added.
"Haven't done cross-country, but they decided to come out this year: Cody Speece and Gus Roberts. Cody was in our 4x800 that went to State, and Gus was a 400 runner."
Walton also indicated high expectations for the Ignacio High School runners competing for their valley neighbor, since IHS doesn't have its own cross country team.
"Bryan Gram and Rachel Cooper are both back," he said, noting both are also experienced seniors. Gram had a strong track season earlier this year for the Bobcats, as well.
"And we gained a new freshman this year who actually looks really good, who's been working really hard in practice. I'm excited to see what he can run in a 5K; his name is Elco Garcia."
As in Elco Garcia, Jr., son of the well-known local professional boxer.
"I know he's a pretty big basketball player too," said Walton, "but he showed up to the parent meeting a couple weeks ago and we were excited to have our new athlete!"
Races at the Stampede are tentatively set to begin at 10:30 a.m., with 3A varsity girls to head out an hour later. 3A varsity boys are scheduled to go out at 1:30 p.m. on the route, which also will be used for the state meet on Oct. 29.
"The Stampede - we're looking forward to this year," Walton said. "The weather's supposed to be great; the last time I went was Eva-Lou's (Eva-Lou Edwards) senior year, and the temperature was over 100 that day! So I'm looking forward to 70 degrees!"
The fourth-year boss also singled out the Friday, Sept. 16, Southwest Colorado Cross Country Invite as a must-see evening event.
Runners wear glow sticks and headlamps as they run on the Hillcrest Golf Club fairways, which are lit with portable lights.
"We're hosting our home meet at Hillcrest - co-hosting with Durango - and I know in Bayfield we have nothing that night! No volleyball, no football - from what I know, we're the only thing going! I'm not sure what Ignacio's doing, but we'll be out in the twilight that night!"
