San Juan cross country boys take third, girls finish sixth at Red Rock Invitational in Moab

by Jessica Walker
Contributing Writer
Amid the hustle and bustle of homecoming week, the San Juan High School cross country team traveled to Moab to compete in the Red Rock Invitational this past Wednesday, September 25.
Though the 5K course is flat and grassy and typically a fast course, the sweltering temperatures made it challenging.
Austin Pincock led the boys team with a 12th-place overall finish and a time of 17:52. Pincock has epitomized consistency and dedication this season and has steadily improved.
Rosendo Martine secured 16th place with a strong finish in 18:14, followed by Platte Lyman in 33rd with a time of 19:20.
The athlete who finished next had only run varsity once this season nearly a month ago at the Loyds Lake Classic in Monticello where he finished seventh on the team.
Noah Begay was the unexpected athlete who earned a fourth-place finish on the team. His impressive 19:38 performance earned him 42nd overall in Moab.
Right on his tail was freshman Keegan McCullough, finishing just one second after Begay with a time of 19:39 in 43rd. Jack Kartchner’s 46th-place finish of 19:41 was just two seconds later.
Another new face joined the varsity team, crossing the line just over ten seconds after Katchner. James Gosney blazed to a 50th-place finish with his time of 19:54. Gosney is another young athlete who will undoubtedly be a strong varsity team member as he continues to compete.
Brittany Jensen was the first harrier on the San Juan girls team to finish. She looked completely in control as she nabbed 11th overall with her time of 21:49. Sincere Nez finished next with a quick time of 22:39 and a 16th-place finish.
Brinley Jones and Ada Lyman finished next within a minute of each other in 24:11 and 24:53. Both athletes looked strong as they ran to 25th and 30th places.
Sierra Black charged across the finish line next in 44th with a time of 27:48, trailed closely by Harmony Oshley and Braylyn Eddie in 47th and 48th. Oshley and Eddie finished with times of 28:26 and 28:35 respectively.
The boys team, although missing top contributor Abe Lyman, still combined to earn an excellent third-place team finish behind 6A Lehi and 3A Carbon. The girls finished sixth among the eight teams earning scores.
The team’s next race is on their home turf. The John Thornton Invitational is this Wednesday, October 2 on Pacheco Trail behind the Blanding Visitor Center. The boys race begins at 4 p.m. with the girls starting immediately after.