A win for Ro Paschal, a win for Simon Kearns, two team championships for the Mancos boys team and several solid performances by the Mancos girls.
In other words, a successful week for the Mancos High School boys and girls cross-country teams, which continue to perform well in advance of regionals and state.
Teams do well in Del Norte
Opening last week at the Del Norte Invitational in South Fork on Sept. 30, the Mancos boys team placed first overall and the girls team placed second in the four-team meet.
Pacing the boys, Ro Paschal was crowned individual champion after turning in a time of 17:49.
Nic Archuleta placed third (18:56), Asa Kearns placed seventh (19:33), Vincent Grego placed 15th (20:30), and Kole Romero-Keller placed 28th (28:09).
The girls team was led by Emma Most, who finished fourth (23:23). Hannah Skinner placed fifth (23:58), and Jessalyn Bay-Voit finished 18th (28:25).
"At the Del Norte meet, we got to see a number of 2A runners that we had not competed against," wrote Mancos head coach Brady Archer in an email to The Mancos Times.
"It was the first time all season our girls scored as a team, and they did an excellent job," he wrote.
Kearns wins in Blanding
Competing in the John Thornton Invitational in Blanding on Oct. 1, the Mancos boys team placed fifth out of seven teams. The Mancos girls team did not compete.
Leading the boys was Simon Kearns, who finished first overall with a time of 16:43.
Next across the line for Mancos was Jake McKie, who placed 17th (18:56). Zane Goodell placed 28th (19:34), Zane Wilson placed 37th (20:24), and Alex Flitz finished 43rd (22:34).
"In Blanding, we ran mostly freshmen with Zane Goodell as our lone junior," Archer wrote in his email.
"Simon ran a great race against a tough runner from Monticello, and the rest of the team ran fast times on a fast course."
Paschal leads boys Closing out the week at the Ancient Trails Invitational in Cortez on Oct. 4, the Mancos boys placed first ahead of eight other teams.
Again winning for the Bluejays was Ro Paschal, whose time of 17:46 put him 18 seconds clear of the second-place finisher.
"A couple of guys broke to the front early, and I stayed with them," said Paschal.
"It was the fastest first mile I ran all year."
Nic Archuleta finished seventh (19:09), Asa Kearns finished 11th (19:46), Caleb Yoder finished 19th (20:39), and Zane Goodell finished 26th (21:01).
Skinner leads girls
The girls team was led by Hannah Skinner, who finished 15th (24:43). Just behind Skinner was Emma Most, who finished 16th (24:46).
Jessalyn Bay-Voit finished 27th (26:31).
"I was trying to catch up to Emma, and that helped me," said Skinner.
"The course is was pretty good, but it was really hot today, which makes it hard to run," added Most.
Next up for the Mancos teams will be the Eric Wolfe Invitational in Monte Vista on Oct. 10.