Cold temperatures and icy tents didn’t stop the Durango High School cycling team at Peaceful Valley in Elbert.
The team won the team event to pull within 113 points of first-place Grand Valley and remain in second in the Division II standings after three races in the Colorado High School Cycling League.
Animas High School is in fourth place in Division I and trails Fairview by 80 points.
“Elbert is one of those races that is key to the overall as it is a long drive, very little climbing and very little technical riding; it does not favor our racers,” AHS and DHS team director Sarah Tescher said in and email to The Durango Herald. “Yet, they did exactly what they knew they had to do, which was ride hard and finish strong no matter the obstacle – be it mechanical, crash or otherwise.”
AHS’ India Waller finished first in the girls varsity race, while DHS’ Kaylee Blevins finished runner-up.
Christopher Blevins came in fourth place in his first high school race of the season. Will Berger, Charlie Greenberg and Bryce Gordon all finished in the top 15.
Keenan Desplanques won the boys junior varsity race for AHS, and teammate Keiran Eagen was riding first in the freshmen boys race but crashed and finished second. Lukas Robbins of DHS came in third. Also for DHS, Perrin Kileen finished seventh, Dylan Williamson ninth, George McQuinn 10th and Andrew Middleton 11th.
Katja Freeburn and Camryn Sippy came in second and third place, respectively, in the girls JV race for the Demons.
DHS cyclist Ellen Campbell took third in the girls sophomore race.
The teams next will compete at the state championships Oct. 20 in Eagle.
“We need some of our riders to move up just one or two spots in their finishes, and we will have both teams on the podium with DHS riding for the win,” Tescher said. “It will take the whole team to make it happen. But if any group of athletes can get it done, it would be this crew.”
heraldsports@durangoherald.com
