The Kokopelli Racing Team from Colorado Springs won multiple team championships at the 2019 National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships at Yahara Hills Golf Course in Madison, Wisconsin, showing their depth and skill. Four-thousand of the country’s finest youth cross country athletes braved sub-freezing temperatures Saturday to compete in the races.
Final results can be found here.
The day started with a dominating performance in the 8 & Under division. In the girls 2K, Laila Goodman (Litchfield Track) crossed the line in 8:01.2, almost five seconds ahead of second place finisher, Roxanne Rivera (Pacific Coast Shock Waves). Rivera’s 8:06.1 was a personal best time ahead of third place finisher Brisce McAuliffe (Westchester Striders Track), 8:12.8. The Valley United Track Club won the division with 31 points and an 8:40 average against second place finisher Mt. Pleasant Track Club with 101 points and a 9:12 average time.
The Kokopelli Racing Team claimed the first two spots in the girl’s 3K 9-10 division with Heidi Curtis clocking a new personal best 11:10.1 and Tatum Snow finishing in 11:27.9. Their 1-2 effort was crucial in claiming the team title by just eight points with 65 against second place finishers Park City Running Club’s 73 points.
In the boys 4K 13-14 Division, Nathan Lopez (New England Elite Track Club) pulled away with about 100m left to win in 12:39.5 in what turned out to be the closest finish of the day. Broen Holman (Foothill Gold) was second in 12:40.3 and William Schneider (Rain City Flyers) recorded a new personal best, 12:47.2, for third place.
A couple of participants from 2018 returned to better themselves in 2019. Jessica Abbott (Shore Athletics), ran a personal best 10:47.0 to win the girls 3K 11-12 division a year after placing second in the 9-10 division in 12.02.8. Bethany Michalak (Kokopelli Racing Team) returned after winning the 2018 title in the 11-12 division to clock a personal best, 13:27.2, en route to winning the girls 4K 13-14 division. Valley United Track Club’s Sadie Engelhardt improved on her third place finish last year in the 11-12 division to cross the line in second in 13:58.9 in the 13-14 division.
Girls 2k 8 & Under Division
Laila Goodman, Litchfield Tack, 9:01.2
Roxanne Rivera, Pacific Coast Shock Waves, 8:06.1, PR
Brisce McAuliffe, Westchester Striders Track, 8:12.8
Boys 2k 8 & Under Division
Quenton Lanese, Barron Park Striders, 7:27.0
Alexander Riley, Vo2max Track Club, 7:41.3
Bah’Hozhoon Fleg, Sports Warriors Track Club, 7:46.5
Girls 3k 9-10 Division
Heidi Curtis, Kokopelli Racing Team, 11:10.1, PR
Tatum Snow, Kokopelli Racing Team, 11:27.9
Abigail Wallace, Unattached, 11:34.4
Boys 3k 9-10 Division
Ryan Duffy, Unattached, 10:36.8
Rowan Henry, N. Idaho, XC, 10:40.0
Nathan Frattali, Eldersburg Rogue Runners, 10:43.7, PR
Girls 3k 11-12 Division
Jessica Abbott, Shore Athletic, 10:47.0 PR
Myla Pasley, Valley United Track Club, 10:50.9
Maya de Brouwer, Valley United Track Club, 10:51.1
Boys 3k 11-12 Division
Amanuel Putz, Unattached, 9:43.0
Daniel Skandera, Unattached, 10:01.0
Joseph Barrett, Lakeland Junior Track & Field, 10:02.0, PR
Girls 4k 13-14 Division
Bethany Michalak, Kokopelli Racing Team, 13:27.2, PR
Sadie Engelhardt, Valley United Track Club, 13:58.9
Carmen Luisi, Unattached, 14:03.9
Boys 4k 13-14 Division
Nathan Lopez, New England Elite Track Club, 12:39.5
Broen Holman, Foothill Gold, 12:40.3
William Schneider, Rain City Flyers, 12:47.2, PR
Girls 5k 15-16 Division
Eva Jess, Team Bliss, 17:35.5, PR
Abigail Broadley, Wild Endurance, 18:36.8, PR
Alyssa Becker, Unattached, 18.59.2
Boys 5k 15-16 Division
Erik Le Roux, Unattached, 15:10.1
Matthew Olech, Unattached, 15:41.3
Brogan Giffin, Wild Endurance, 15.45.9, PR
Girls 5k 17-18 Division
Mary Heinen, Richmond Track & Field, 17:46.2
Emilia Joyce, Richmond Track & Field, 19.34.1
Natalie Rhodes, Badger Track Club, 19:40.0, PR
Boys 5k 17-18 Division
Jes Dimich-Louvet, Unattached, 15:45.9
Ryan Maynard, Team Kentucky Elite, 15.57.6, PR
Justinn Peck, Sun City, 16:03.5, PR