None of the other races or personal accolades mattered much to these young men. The common goal on the minds of the Durango High School boys cross country runners this season was to enjoy their final season together and win a Colorado High School Activities Association Class 4A state title.
Saturday morning at the Norris Penrose Events Center in Colorado Springs, they did, delivering Durango High School its first team state championship in any sport since 1999.
At the end of their final run together, Durango’s total of 73 bettered Palmer Ridge by two points. Benjamin Lachelt’s fifth-place time of 16 minutes, 21.7 seconds and David Moenning’s 10th-place finish (16:38) put the two seniors on the podium. They were instrumental in the victory, as none of the Palmer Ridge runners finished in the top 10. Battle Mountain finished a distant third with 173 total points.
“Palmer Ridge is a perennial powerhouse, the defending champs, and we knew it would be us and them in the end,” Demons head coach David McMillan said in a phone interview with The Durango Herald. “We were ranked No. 2 behind them all season, but I was confident in our team because we have interchangeable parts. Before the race, I told them that whoever wins is the team that deserves it the most. We did all we could, and we prepared all season for this.”
The race was so close it took awhile for the teams to find out who the actual winner was. McMillan had trouble finding the results and, when he did, he didn’t realize he was without his reading glasses. When he saw the name at the top spot, he could only see the team name had one word. At that point, he knew it said “Durango.”
McMillan gathered his boys, asked them to huddle up and revealed to them that the goal had been achieved – they were state champs.
“I thought we were second, I really did,” said Jordan Helms, son of Tom and Elizabeth Helms. “I almost threw up and when I learned that we won, I couldn’t believe it. I was speechless.”
Durango’s Nicholas Turco finished 14th in 16:42, and William Chandler was right behind him in 16:53, good for 19th. Helms’ time of 17:02 put him in 25th. The lone junior in the group, Harry Steinberg, finished 33rd with a time of 17:23.4, and Isaac Ducker took 35th with 17:23.9 for the new 4A state champions.
It is the seventh state championship for Durango’s boys cross country program.
Classical Academy’s Tanner Norman won the race with a time of 15:50. Alec Hornecker of Golden came in second (15:52); Widefield’s Maximilliano Martinez took third (16:08); and Ian Meek of Montrose was fourth in 16:20.
With a two-point margin of victory, every runner’s efforts were critical, and that’s the team concept McMillan emphasized all year.
The Demons won every race they entered in Colorado this season, starting with the Cheyenne Mountain Stampede in August that was held at the same venue as Saturday’s state meet.
The narrow margin of victory on Saturday is the closest any team has come to matching their performance.
Moenning’s effort down the stretch was a difference maker, as Palmer Ridge’s top-three runners finished in the three spots behind him. Turco, who finished a few spots back from Moenning, saw the incredible effort firsthand.
“At the end of the race, I was running with David and there were three Palmer Ridge kids in the sprint,” said Turco, son of Richard Turco and Jack and Jennifer Turner. “I was worried because they got past me, but I saw David kick it past them, and I was so proud to see that. For a moment, I felt like I may have cost us the race because they came in ahead of me, but David’s sprint actually won it for us.”
Will Chandler, who finished 19th, also had a crucial moment in his run that could have cost the Demons the title. Chandler lived a runner’s nightmare, falling to his knees in the middle of the race as he lost traction on wet ground.
“Part of the course was near a stream. The ground was wet and, when I stepped on it, it gave way,” said Chandler, son of Bill and Virginia Chandler. “When I got up, I knew I had to make up some ground. I passed a few others, and I heard Seamus (Millett) yelling at me to go. I just ran as hard as I could for the rest of the way.”
Seamus Millett, a key senior and a world-class pentathlete, battled health issues and was unable to participate, but he still had a huge impact on the race.
“I knew that I wouldn’t be able to run, but I still wanted to make a difference,” said Millett, son of James Millett and Jennifer Thurston. “I found some areas on the side where not many people were standing so I could make myself noticeable. I screamed as loud as I could and, when the guys saw me, I think they got a bit of a boost, so that was nice to see.”
Millett’s contribution is a textbook example of the family atmosphere the team adopted. When they all crossed the finish line, the group gathered together and tried to do the math between themselves. They weren’t sure of the result and prepared themselves to hear bad news. They all put their hands together in a circle as their coach gave the news.
“It was a very nervous few minutes, and it seemed like it took forever,” said Moenning, son of Amy and Joshua Moenning. “At one point coach was shaking his head, and we just didn’t know. When he told us we won, we jumped in the air and cried. I can’t describe it.”
It was a moment they know they’ll never forget.
“I don’t think I’ve fully absorbed it,” said Benjamin Lachelt, son of Gwen Lachelt and Trisha Rickey. “I just know that this day we were better than every team out there, and we’ll keep that in our hearts and bodies forever.”
Durango High School athletic director David Preszler was in attendance for the race, and he was blown away by the grittiness of the DHS athletes.
“I’m unbelievably proud of not only the student-athletes but the parents, coaches and the whole running community of Durango,” he said. “We had alumni, parents and fans all over the course, and they really helped make it a truly special day.”
Though they’re state champions and the CHSAA season is over, the Demons aren’t done running quite yet. They’re heading back to Arizona to compete in Nike’s NXN Southwest Regional on Nov. 21 for a chance to compete nationally.
The Demons were also represented in the Class 4A girls’ state championship race and finished 21st overall.
Junior Sarah Smagacz led the way with a 69th-place finish in 21:24.6. Sophomore Abby Scott crossed 91st (21:44), while Maggie Wigton (21:58.7) and Bekah Moenning (21:58.8) finished 103rd and 104th.
“Just getting there was a big deal for this young group of girls,” McMillan said. “It was tough for them to run after the excitement in the boys race but the experience was valuable and it is something they can take into next season.”
Air Academy senior Katie Rainsberger won her second consecutive individual state title with a time of 17:39. The Kadets also took the Class 4A girls title as a team.
Bayfield High School
Bayfield junior Bridget Goddard competed in the CHSAA 3A girls state championship race. She finished in 92nd place with a time of 23:03.6. Salida won the 3A girls race as a team with a total of 50 points. Peak to Peak freshman Quinn McConnell won the 3A girls individual title with a time of 18:41.1.
jfries@durangoherald.com
By the numbers
CHSAA Class 4A State Cross Country Championships
Team Scores
1. Durango High School, 73
2. Palmer Ridge, 75.
3. Battle Mountain, 173.
4. Classical Academy, 175.
5. Air Academy, 205.
Individual Results
1. Tanner Norman, Classical Academy, 15:50.4.
2. Alec Hornecker, Golden, 15:52.5.
3. Maximilliano Martinez, Widefield, 16:08.0.
4. Ian Meek, Montrose, 16:20.9.
5. Benjamin Lachelt, Durango, 16:21.7.
Also:
10. David Moenning, Durango, 16:38.0.
14. Nicholas Turco, Durango, 16:42.2.
19. William Chandler, Durango, 16:53.4.
25. Jordan Helms, Durango, 17:02.5.
33. Harry Steinberg, Durango, 17:23.4.
35. Isaac Ducker, Durango 17:23.9.
Durango Herald
