Though able to tighten things up between their top two runners in anticipation of this Friday's 3A-Region I Championships, the Bayfield boys' cross-country crew still faced some stiff competition at last weekend's Eric Wolff Invitational in Monte Vista.
Sophomore Elco Garcia, Jr., and senior Sloan Mazur finished only three seconds apart, clocking 19:51 and 19:54 respectively on the Chapman Park course, and placed 25th and 27th overall out of 82 finishers-helping the Wolverines amass 119 points and place sixth out of 10 scoring teams.
Gunnison's Colton Stice won the race in 17 minutes flat. 2A Westcliffe Custer County's Micah Zeller followed next in 17:34 and Ethan Reschke of meet-hosting 2A Sargent took third in 17:42.
BHS' 3-4-5 runners, meanwhile, stayed relatively close together and crossed the finish line separated by only 15 places. Nathan Carlson took 49th in 20:52, Rylan Ross was at his heels in a 50th-place 20:53, and Ethan Cook ended up 64th in 21:57.
In the girls' race, Bayfield's competing trio stayed within ten places of each other, led by 45th-place Olivia Keitz's 28:49. Twelve seconds behind Keitz, Sarah Ruybal finished 46th, and Mylee Sanders took 55th in 33:30.
Pacing the pack overall was not one, but an awesome four runners for Gunnison. Ivy Pelletier was the winner in 20 minutes, 58 seconds, with teammates Aulea Rollins (21:08), Annelise Pelletier (21:37) and Bria Rickert (21:43) all finishing 30 or more ticks ahead of 2A Rye's Raechel Lopez (22:13) and helping the Cowgirls compile a perfect 10-point low at the score-4 meet.
The last chance to qualify for the upcoming state championships in Colorado Springs, the Oct. 20 regionals in Delta will start at 1 p.m., with the course centered about Lions Pavilion in Confluence Park.
ERIC WOLFF INVITATIONAL BOYS' TEAM STANDINGS: 1.Gunnison 18, 2.Sargent 26, 3.Alamosa 38, 4.La Jara Centauri 104, 5.Pagosa Springs 111, 6.BAYFIELD 119, 7.Rye 126, 8.Del Norte 129, 9.Salida 146, 10.Antonito 185.
ERIC WOLFF INVITATIONAL GIRLS' TEAM STANDINGS: 1.Gunnison 10, 2.La Jara Centauri 45, 3.Pagosa Springs 57, 4.Alamosa 62, 5.Rye 74.
