Monticello boys take 1st at cross-country region Nielson and Carling earn individual titles

Monticello boys earned another Region 19 cross-country championship while the Bucks also delivered the top overall winners in both the boys and girls region meet at Loyds Lake on October 16.
Monticello senior Kooper Nielson earned an individual and team title in the Region 19 cross country championships on October 16. Nielson earned the title running the 5k race in 17 minutes 27 seconds, just five seconds in front of the runner-up.
Nielson led a pack of four runners for the first half of the race that narrowed to him and Whitehorse senior Ethan Begay in the final push of the race with Begay making a charge part-way up a hill at the Loyd’s Lake course. Nielson said despite that he felt confident.
“I made my move on the hill. We work really hard on the hills because that's all we have around here.”
Nielson said he kept his confidence up as they climbed the hill.
“I just tried my best to push it up because I really wanted to win. I wasn't going to let that down.”
The Buckaroos also captured another team title in Region 19, with Nielson being the sole senior on the team.
“They worked really hard and we really appreciated that. We made it a goal as a team, we wanted to win this, so we all set individual goals as well. And so, I think everyone had the right mindset of we want to get our goals. And it was just cool to watch everyone come in and seeing them light up because they knew that they reached their goal.”
Sophomore Eli Carling finished in 3rd for Monticello in a time of 17:43, while Charlie Welch finished in 5th with a time of 18:21, Gabe Long was 7th for Monticello in a time of 19:46 just ahead of Linden English who finished 8th in a time of 19:52 while Christian Hunt finished 11th.
The Buckaroos have won two 1A state championships in a row and are once again among the contenders for the title at the state meet at Sugar House Park in Salt Lake City on October 28.
Nielson says to repeat the team has to continue to work hard.
“Got to keep working hard these last weeks, even though it sucks, but I know this is my last year, my last couple races. I just want to not regret anything and just give it my best so that when it's all over, I'll be happy with the ending.”
Monticello Sophomore Allie Carling won the girls region championship. Carling ran the course in 21:55 to earn the title. Speaking after the race Carling said to win “feels absolutely amazing”
Carling admitted to some nerves before the race.
“I just kept on telling myself that I could do it and I could do it and then I did it. So, it felt pretty good. It felt pretty rewarding.”
Carling was the youngest member of last year’s state runner-up team which saw three seniors graduate, she says being a leader this year has been challenging.
“it's been kind of hard, but honestly, really rewarding, and it's really awesome to see these girls improving every day.”
Finishing in the top 10 for Monticello included Mikaylah Gillette in 6th place, Brenna Baxter in 7th place, Murryn Suttlemyre in 10th place and Xymenah Alvarado in 11th place, the lady Buckaroos finished as runner-ups in the region meet.
Carling has her own goals as she prepares for the state championship race on October 28.
“I really want to PR (set a personal record) at state and top 10 would be really awesome. I'm aiming for top 15, it will all be really good.”
The Buckaroo runners will race at the state meet on October 28 in Salt Lake City