The Durango High School cross-country teams raced in the premier event at the Desert Twilight cross-country festival Friday in Queen Creek, Arizona.
Competing with nationally ranked squads in the sweepstakes races, the Demons ran several of the fastest times in the school’s history while 13 of the 14 DHS athletes who competed ran personal record times.
Land Lambert finished 10th in 15 minutes, 9.7 seconds, which is the second fastest time in DHS history. Damian Frausto finished right behind Lambert, placing 11th in 15:11.9, the third fastest time in DHS history.
“The dynamic duo did it again, this time at the biggest race in the Southwestern United States,” said DHS head coach Ken Flint. “To watch them run the second and third fastest times in school history on such a big stage was truly special.”
Willow Lott, meanwhile, ran the fourth fastest time girls’ time in DHS history, placing 42nd in 18:32.9.
Angela McManus ran the 11th fastest time, 19:01.5, to place 57th while Nina Quayle ran the school’s 17th fastest time, placing 71st in 19:23.7.
“Nina Quayle ran the race of the night,” Flint said. “She was focused and into it.”
Brynn Aggeler and Sofia Voss also shattered their personal records, by 42 seconds and 72 seconds, to round out the DHS girls’ score. Aggeler ran a 19:37.5 to place 83rd while Voss ran a 19:50.0 to place 96th, helping DHS finish 10th out of 23 teams in the toughest of the six varsity divisions at the race. Athletes from about 20 other teams competed in the sweepstakes races.
Tea Forrest, meanwhile, finished 107th out 187 girls in 20:04.90. Mia Whistler crossed 116th in 20:16.50.
“A solid performance, but we know we can run better overall as a team,” Flint said. “We held back a couple of girls from running down in Arizona who would’ve made a difference in our top-five. When we get a chance to run at full strength and our girls run to their capabilities, watch out.”
Durango’s girls are currently ranked No. 2 in class 4A
Lauren Ping of Desert Vista High won the girls’ race in 16:40.40. Niwot, who was ranked No. 16 in the nation, won the girls’ team title ahead of No. 3 ranked Arapahoe, 44-77.
The three other Demon boys who scored for the team also knocked over a minute off their previous personal records.
Nathaniel Ellis placed 113th in 16:41.5, Charlie Dillman ran a 16:54.3 to place 136th and Nove Tocco ran a 17:49.9 to place 191st.
William McFarlene, meanwhile, ran a 17:52.40, and Thomas Pope ran a 19:14.0
“The guys team continues to impress with running monster PR’s every week,” Flint said.
In the team race, the DHS boys placed 12th out of 27 squads.
Niwot’s Zane Bergin won the boys’ race in 14:50.10, helping the Cougars, ranked No. 12 nationally, win the boys’ team title.
Durango also sent a contingent of runners to the hilly Pagosa Springs Challenge on Saturday. Dewa Ilg won the girls’ race by 23 seconds in 23:03, helping DHS finish 13 points better than Pagosa to score a team title. Brodie Dorko was the top DHS boy, placing 30th in 23:58.
Durango will now return home to host its home meet with Fort Lewis College on Friday at the Hillcrest Golf Club.
Middle school races will begin at 2 and 2:30 p.m., followed by the high school boys’ varsity race at 3 p.m. and the girls’ varsity race at 3:30 p.m.
The women’s collegiate 5k race will start at 4:15 p.m., followed by the collegiate men’s 8k race at 4:45 p.m.
There will also be a community 5k race at 5:30 p.m. Community members interested in running can sign up at https://runsignup.com/Race/CO/Durango/OldFortXCClassic until just before midnight Thursday. Proceeds will benefit local running programs.
