Time Trials
8/26/10 Clovis, NM -Clovis prepares for Invitational. Mike Hankins says Clovis High’s cross country teams are already ahead of the game. The Wildcats and Lady Wildcats, both relatively young but returning experience, will get their first taste of action in today’s Clovis Invitational at Ned Houk Park. Junior varsity races begin at 3 p.m., with the varsity girls going at 4 p.m. and the boys at 4:30 p.m.
Hankins, in his third season, said the roster includes 17 girls and 22 boys with only four seniors, all on the boys’ side.
“We’re starting the season in the best shape we’ve ever been in,” Hankins said. “When workouts started, we were probably two weeks ahead of where we normally are.”
Seniors Colton Dant and Kenan Bussen lead the boys squad, while also returning from last year’s varsity are juniors Brandon Gutierrez and Ty Carroll and sophomore Gene Snell. Juniors Ryan Brown and Kevin Dallas will round out today’s varsity lineup.
Juniors back on the varsity for the girls are Maddie McNaughton, Amy and Gladys Miranda (no relation), Kyra Bussen and Shatia Phillips. The sixth returnee, sophomore Brittany Collins, will miss today’s meet with an ankle injury, Hankins said.
Rounding out the varsity lineup today is freshman Rebekah Gallup, a transfer from Las Vegas, Nev.
Hankins would like to improve on last year’s eighth-place boys and 10-place girls finishes, but for now he is focused on the start of the season.
“Your goal is always to do better than you did before,” he said. “Right now, we want to just get better every week. If we do that, then state will take care of itself.”
McNaughton said last year’s showing at state served as motivation to get ready during the summer.
“I’m a lot more confident this year,” said McNaughton, who was 55th at last year’s state meet in her first year in the sport. “Last year, I wasn’t sure what to expect of myself.”
She said Collins’ return will make the team stronger.
“She’s very fast,” McNaughton said. “She kind of came out of nowhere last year and blew us all away.”
Dant finished eighth in last year’s Class 5A state meet for the boys, while Bussen was next for CHS in 61st place.
“I’m going to try and be in the top 10 with (Dant) at state this year,” Bussen said. “This year, we want to get in the top five (as a team.”
“We definitely expect to do better. Our goal is to go after the (District 4-5A title) first, and then worry about state.”
Hankins said about 10 teams are expected for today’s meet, including district rivals Hobbs and Carlsbad.
“These kids have done everything that we’ve asked of them,” he said. “We’ll see how we match up with other teams, but I think we’re ready to go.”
RESULTS
Here are the individual results for the 2010 Cross Country time trials.
BOYS RESULTS [Pdf File]
GIRLS RESULTS [Pdf File]
