Sports
Cross Country begins season
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| Runners take off on the new Benson cross-country trail at a four-way meet last week. (Courtesy / Mike Nelson) |
By Mike Nelson / Arizona Range News
Willcox Cross Country began its 2009 season Wednesday, Aug. 12. The program is 37 years old, beginning in 1972 under coach Bill Stroud.
Willcox returns three starters and welcomes 10 new runners.
Willcox will host two meets: Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 4 p.m. at the Coronado Winery property and Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 3 p.m. at the Coronado Winery property.
The Willcox Cross Country Team is also having its annual fund-raising Dos Cabezas Bike-a-thon on Saturday, Sept. 19 starting at 8 a.m. from the Willcox Gymnasium. All bike riders are invited to join us.
"This a young team with very good leadership. As a result, I expect a good season, both in terms of effort and enjoyment Community members are invited to our home meets to see some of the best young runners in Southern Arizona compete," said Head Coach Mike Nelson.
The first meet of the season was a four-way meet at Benson on Sept. 1, including Empire and Pusch Ridge Christian Academy on Tuesday, Sept. 1.
Clouds dominated the warm weather and the Cross Country course was changed due to a major renovation to the Benson football field and surrounding practice grounds.
The boys' race was hotly contested between the Empire and Pusch Ridge teams. Any change of position for any of the top five finishers for both teams could have changed the result. Empire won with 40 points followed by Pusch Ridge with 41; Willcox had 85 and Benson 90. Forest Swift of Benson was the individual champion with a time of 18:21 over the 3.1 mile course.
"Willcox runners ran well," said Nelson. "Senior Stephen Addington was 4th at 20:12; Freshman Eli Webster was 5th, 20:18; Sophomore Damion Barba 17th, 23:07; Sophomore Ryan Atwell 28th, 28:56; and Freshman Jacob Collins 31st, 32:05. Stephen and Eli showed what their summer conditioning contributed to their effort."
Of the five Willcox runners, only Stephen had experience.
In the girls' competition Pusch Ridge won with 26 points; Empire was second with 40; Willcox was third at 68; and Benson did not score team points because they entered only two runners (five are required in order to score team points).
The individual winner was McDonald of Pusch Ridge with a time of 21:47.
Junior Melody Motes was Willcox's leader, finishing 10th at 28:08; Frosh Kendel Hale was 13th at 29:05; Sophomore Roxanne McInnes 16th, 32:13; Senior Samantha Miller 19th, 36:22; and Sophomore Stacie Harris 20th, 36:22. All the girls ran well, Nelson added/
"First meets are always important for both runners and coaches. The first meet can set the tone one way or the other. Willcox runners put forth a good effort and were pleased with the results," said Nelson , adding he was encouraged by the team's performance.
The Thatcher Invitational was held on Friday, Sept. 4 at the Eastern Arizona Stadium. Seven teams participated: Benson, Bisbee, Coolidge, Florence, Safford, Thatcher, and Willcox.
Final results have not been received as of this time; I will update as soon as I receive them.
Willcox had three runners in the Girls' Varsity race. Roxanne McInnes placed 30; Stacie Harris was 31; and Melody Motes was 32. There was no team score for Willcox; Kendel Hale was absent due to injury and Samantha Miller had a commitment in Tucson. This was a difficult race for the Willcox girls due to muscle cramps and heat.
The Boys' Varsity race was won by Forrest Swift of Benson while the team honors went to Safford. Willcox boys ran well. Stephen Addington was 11th and a medal winner; Eli Webster was 12th and a medal winner; Damion Barba was 27th; Ryan Atwell was 38th; and Jacob Collins was 43rd.
Willcox returns three starters and welcomes 10 new runners.
Willcox will host two meets: Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 4 p.m. at the Coronado Winery property and Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 3 p.m. at the Coronado Winery property.
The Willcox Cross Country Team is also having its annual fund-raising Dos Cabezas Bike-a-thon on Saturday, Sept. 19 starting at 8 a.m. from the Willcox Gymnasium. All bike riders are invited to join us.
"This a young team with very good leadership. As a result, I expect a good season, both in terms of effort and enjoyment Community members are invited to our home meets to see some of the best young runners in Southern Arizona compete," said Head Coach Mike Nelson.
The first meet of the season was a four-way meet at Benson on Sept. 1, including Empire and Pusch Ridge Christian Academy on Tuesday, Sept. 1.
Clouds dominated the warm weather and the Cross Country course was changed due to a major renovation to the Benson football field and surrounding practice grounds.
The boys' race was hotly contested between the Empire and Pusch Ridge teams. Any change of position for any of the top five finishers for both teams could have changed the result. Empire won with 40 points followed by Pusch Ridge with 41; Willcox had 85 and Benson 90. Forest Swift of Benson was the individual champion with a time of 18:21 over the 3.1 mile course.
"Willcox runners ran well," said Nelson. "Senior Stephen Addington was 4th at 20:12; Freshman Eli Webster was 5th, 20:18; Sophomore Damion Barba 17th, 23:07; Sophomore Ryan Atwell 28th, 28:56; and Freshman Jacob Collins 31st, 32:05. Stephen and Eli showed what their summer conditioning contributed to their effort."
Of the five Willcox runners, only Stephen had experience.
In the girls' competition Pusch Ridge won with 26 points; Empire was second with 40; Willcox was third at 68; and Benson did not score team points because they entered only two runners (five are required in order to score team points).
The individual winner was McDonald of Pusch Ridge with a time of 21:47.
Junior Melody Motes was Willcox's leader, finishing 10th at 28:08; Frosh Kendel Hale was 13th at 29:05; Sophomore Roxanne McInnes 16th, 32:13; Senior Samantha Miller 19th, 36:22; and Sophomore Stacie Harris 20th, 36:22. All the girls ran well, Nelson added/
"First meets are always important for both runners and coaches. The first meet can set the tone one way or the other. Willcox runners put forth a good effort and were pleased with the results," said Nelson , adding he was encouraged by the team's performance.
The Thatcher Invitational was held on Friday, Sept. 4 at the Eastern Arizona Stadium. Seven teams participated: Benson, Bisbee, Coolidge, Florence, Safford, Thatcher, and Willcox.
Final results have not been received as of this time; I will update as soon as I receive them.
Willcox had three runners in the Girls' Varsity race. Roxanne McInnes placed 30; Stacie Harris was 31; and Melody Motes was 32. There was no team score for Willcox; Kendel Hale was absent due to injury and Samantha Miller had a commitment in Tucson. This was a difficult race for the Willcox girls due to muscle cramps and heat.
The Boys' Varsity race was won by Forrest Swift of Benson while the team honors went to Safford. Willcox boys ran well. Stephen Addington was 11th and a medal winner; Eli Webster was 12th and a medal winner; Damion Barba was 27th; Ryan Atwell was 38th; and Jacob Collins was 43rd.
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