Competing on a difficult course in 80-degree heat against the finest runners in the state, Rachel Demby could have folded.
But the Montezuma-Cortez High School senior rose to the occasion, finishing 38th overall in Class 4A at the state cross-country championships in Colorado Springs on Oct. 25.
Mountain View High School won the girls team title, and Air Academy’s Katie Rainsberger finished first overall. The Mancos High School boys team finished second overall behind Lyons High School in Class 2A.
According to M-CHS coach Paul Koops, Demby’s pace put her in the top 20 of a 182-runner field 2 miles into the race. She faded during the third mile but closed well to crack the top 40.
“I was in a really good place at about the 2-mile mark,” Demby said. I kind of died, but I was still really happy with how I did.”
Demby finished seventh at the 4A Region 6 meet in Delta on Oct. 17. She finished 82nd at the state meet last season.
“Her competitive record stands on its own merit,” said Koops. “In terms of team stuff, she really embraced the whole idea of being captain. She was a team leader, and she was a team servant.”
Demby said that she will remember her time as a member of the Panthers harrier.
“I’m definitely going to remember all the races and all the practices and all the hill workouts,” Demby said. “We had a great team this year.”
“She’s a real competitor,” said Koops. “She set a really high bar for future runners in the area who will hopefully want to be like her.”