Included in one of the state’s most talent-stocked fields, the Bayfield Wolverines found the odds for success stacked against them at the Class 3A-Region I Championships.
And unfortunately for the developing team, even an individual ticket to the 2021 CHSAA state championships in Colorado Springs would elude them last Friday in New Castle at the Coal Ridge-hosted meet.
Senior Royce Hinojosa, BHS’ best hope to see the season’s final weekend, led the way placing 34th in 19 minutes, 36.2 seconds – about 2:27 behind winner, and fellow Intermountain Leaguer, Alamosa junior Santiago Trujillo (17:09.5). Gunnison senior Jackson Baker earned runner-up status with his 17:22.7 effort, and AHS junior Izaiah Casanova finished third in 17:25.8.
With two more Mean Moose finishing in the top seven, Alamosa easily earned the team title by tallying a meet-low score of 44 points. GHS followed with 96, while Craig-based Moffat County (104), Hotchkiss-based North Fork (137) and Rifle (139) rounded out the standings’ top five. Bayfield accumulated 314 points and ranked 12th.
Sophomore Tristan Sager came in 57th overall as BHS’ No. 2, clocking 21 minutes. Senior Liam Smith crossed 71st in 22:21, freshman Hunter Carroll took 83rd in 23:36.9, and classmate Will Kennedy-Jones registered a 25:10.8 and finished 88th on the VIX Ranch Park course.
AHS sophomore Sarah de la Cerda won the Region I girls title in 19:18.2. The defending state champion, Basalt junior Katelyn Maley, took second in 19:23.8, and Gunnison freshman Madelyn Stice (19:41.9) finished third in a race sadly lacking any Bayfield Lady Wolverines.
Alamosa (31), Basalt (68) and Aspen (90) headed up the girls’ team tabulations.
