Buckaroos host local teams in Blue Mountain Classic cross country race

by David Boyle
News Director
San Juan County high school cross country runners performed well at the Blue Mountain Classic at Loyds Lake in Monticello on August 29.
Runners from Whitehorse, Monument Valley, San Juan, and Monticello high schools competed in the early-season run.
In the girls race, San Juan led local teams, finishing second as a team in the competition. The Lady Broncos were paced by junior Sincere Nez who finished second overall, completing the 5K course in 20:24.
Not far behind in third place was Whitehorse junior Keiarra Martin, who finished in 20:51. Monticello sophomore Allie Carling finished ninth in 22:39, while San Juan junior Ada Lyman rounded out the top ten in 22:50.
Brinley Jones’ 14th-place run and Harmony Oshley’s 18th helped San Juan take second place behind Grand Junction Central High School.
The Whitehorse girls finished in fourth place behind Provo High led by Martin, a 12th-place finish by Laylah Benally, a 15th-place finish by Hannah Clark, and 30th by Brandilyn John.
The Monticello girls were fifth in the team results led by Carling, 16th- and 17th-place finishes by Makenna Peterson and Xymenah Alvarado, and a 24th-place run by Mikaylah Gillette.
Local runners finishing in the top ten in the boys race included San Juan senior Rosendo Martine, fifth overall in 17:06; San Juan junior Platte Lyman, seventh in 17:19; Monticello senior Kooper Nielson, ninth in 17:47; and Monticello sophomore Eli Carling, tenth in 17:49.
San Juan finished second as a team behind Grand Junction Central. The Broncos were led by Martine and Lyman along with a 13th-place performance by Keegan McCullough, and a 16th by Jeraden Hurst.
The Monticello boys finished fourth as a team behind Grand County. The Buckaroos were led by Nielson and Carling, with Charlie Welch finishing 32nd and Gabe Long 50th.
Whitehorse finished seventh as a team, led by a 12th-place 18:13 run from Ethan Begay. Elam Etsitty was 25th, and Riley Benallie and Brayden John rounded out the scoring for the Raiders.
Josiah Gipe finished 30th as the lone Monument Valley Cougar running in the race.