Running up and down hills at an elevation of 7,225 feet is a
struggle for some cross country teams. For Woodland Park, running
in thin air is a way of life.
Panther cross country ran the Lewis Palmer Invitational at
Palmer Lake on Sept. 28. The 3.1 gravel course in Monument, with
its many ups and downs, is an arduous task at a high
elevation.
After a strong showing in recent meets, the Woodland Park
runners were more than ready for the first Lewis Palmer
race.
The Panther boys hustled to first place for the second time in a
week. The girls’ team earned second place for its second runner-up
finish in the last seven days.
Eleven schools ran in the meet. Coach Ron Payton made keeping up
with one school in particular a goal for both Woodland Park
teams.
“I challenged them to run step for step with Lewis Palmer, who
had beat us at Pueblo,” Payton said.
The Panther boys did more than keep up with the 5A Lewis Palmer
runners. Three Woodland Park finishes in the top 10, and six in the
top 20, secured the team its second win this season.
“It was not any one runner, but a total team effort for the
boys,” Payton said. “It was a real confidence boost.”
A trio of Panther boys ran in a pack at the front of the
77-runner field. Junior Chris Blackburn took fourth place (17:43),
sophomore Ross Brown was fifth (18:16) and senior Dustin Johnson
finished sixth (18:17).
“Chris, Ross and Dustin ran a really good threesome,” Payton
said.
A second pack of Woodland Park boys, all juniors, finished four
seconds apart in the top 20. Josh Jones took 18th (19:26), Sam
Perry was 19th (19:29) and Robert Owen finished 20th
(19:30).
“The real key was Josh, Sam and Robert running faster relative
to their Pueblo performances against the Lewis Palmer runners,”
Payton said.
The lady Panthers also kept pace with Lewis Palmer, who won the
girls’ race.
“The girls placed second to Lewis Palmer, a really good team who
had won the Pueblo meet when we finished third,” Payton
said.
Three Woodland Park girls finished in the top 10, with two more
taking spots in the top 20. Like the Panther boys, the girls also
packed well.
Junior Jamie Welch took third place (21:39), finishing 19
seconds behind the meet winner. Senior Kelsey Ruhmann placed fourth
(21:55), while freshman Katie Pyles earned eighth
(22:27).
Sophomore Katie Walker, 16th (23:13), led teammate Kelsy Pazera,
20th (23:47), to the finish line. Junior Britani Gammill, who ran
with an injury, took 32nd place (25:22).
Payton would like to see the girls’ team pack even closer. The
team’s split time must come down to compete for a league
title.
“The four, five and six runners have to focus more on running
closer to Jamie and Kelsey Ruhmann,” he said. “The girls can still
do this and be regional champions.”
The Woodland Park girls’ split was 2:08 at the invite, while the
boys’ was 1:47. Although both teams still need to improve on these
times, the ability to stay together allowed Woodland Park run so
well, Payton said.
“Split times are still higher than we like, but pack placing was
excellent,” he said.