Buckaroo cross country teams take third in Dolores

by Rhett Sifford
Sports Editor
Marah Long beat every female athlete to the finish line this past Friday, September 20 to win the annual Boggy Draw Bear Chase in Dolores, CO.
The Monticello senior shaved almost two minutes off her 2023 time on the Boggy Draw Trails course to finish in 21:20, pacing the Lady Buckaroos to a third-place team result.
Teammates Ayla Carling and Allie Carling took sixth and seventh overall with their times of 23:30 and 23:32 respectively. Allie’s run is technically a new personal record by two hundredths of a second.
Alexis Bailey came home 22nd for Monticello with a time of 26:55 and Xymenah Alvarado rounded out the team scoring with a 34th-place finish in 30:56.
The Buckaroo boys were also third in the Bear Chase with two runners in the top ten and three finishing in the top 20. Kooper Nielson and Eli Carling led the way mere seconds apart in ninth and tenth with times of 19:57 and 20:03 respectively.
Aaron Gillette crossed the line in 20:42, taking 19th place overall. Charlie Welch was 36th for the Bucks with his time of 22:39.
McKay Nielson took the final scoring position for Monticello with his 43rd-place performance in 23:29 and Alejandro Austin was 53rd with a time of 25:59.
Monticello is in great position as they gear up for the last four meets of the regular season. This Wednesday, September 25 they’re traveling to Moab for the Red Rock Invitational.
Next Wednesday, October 2 they’ll visit Blanding to compete in the John Thornton Invitational.
On October 5 the team will head to Pagosa Springs, CO for the McGinn Memorial Challenge. And on October 12 it’s the Chicken Creek Challenge in Mancos, CO.