Madisen Johnson

CMC's Madisen Johnson of Windsor, Colorado, turned in a 27:42 in the 5K at the CMC Eagle Open at the college’s Leadville campus.

CMC team hosts ‘highest cross-country meet in the solar system’

Eagle runners at home for race Sept. 26

The Colorado Mountain College cross-country running team hosted the CMC Eagle Open on Sept. 26 at the college’s Leadville campus. Joining the CMC Eagles, runners from Central Wyoming College competed in the men’s 8K and women’s 5K while Leadville’s own unattached Black Cloud Racing Team had a strong showing in the men’s race.

Black Cloud’s Ryan Phebus took first place and set a new course record in the 8K with a 29:25, and Scarlett Sisemore of Central Wyoming College came in first in the 5K with a 26:51.

The CMC men took college team honors, beating the CWC Rustlers by one point. The women’s college teams did not have enough members competing to officially score as a team.

CMC’s Jason Macaluso of Vail (31:50) was the overall top college finisher on the men’s side, followed by CMC’s next top men’s finisher, Autry Lomahongva of Kayenta, Arizona (32:35).

On the CMC women’s team, Kya Jackson of Cody, Wyoming, took second place in the 5K with a 27:08, followed by Madisen Johnson of Windsor, Colorado, finishing with a 27:42.

“Our home meet is the highest cross-country meet in the solar system and the most beautiful,” said Darren Brungardt, the Eagles’ head coach and an associate mathematics professor at CMC Leadville. “Our runners thrived in the thin air.”