CMC cross-country teammates (in blue, from left) Lenayah Robertson and Alex Kugler ran in the 6K at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs Open on Oct. 10.
CMC XC runners show ‘tenacity’ at Colorado Springs meet
By Mike McKibbin
Three freshman cross-country runners placed for the Colorado Mountain College Eagles at the Oct. 10 University of Colorado Colorado Springs Open.
With temperatures in Monument Valley Park in the 50s, overcast skies and golden autumn leaves, “The team ran with a lot of tenacity,” according to coach Darren Brungardt.
The men raced a four-lap, 8,000-kilometer course and the women competed in a three-lap, 6,000-kilometer course.
The Eagles competed against a dozen other colleges and universities: Colorado State University, CSU Pueblo, Northern Colorado, Wyoming, Western Colorado, New Mexico Highlands, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Metro State University Denver, Colorado College, Trinidad State, Spurgeon College of Kansas City, Mo., the New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, N.M., and many unattached runners.
CMC’s Aedin Borja of Primero ran his second-best time of the season in 30:54.3. He finished 61st. The freshman has been “crushing workouts,” Brungardt noted.
“He is primed for a stellar finish at nationals next month in Pennsylvania,” he said.
Alex Kugler of Lafayette ran in only her second-ever cross country meet, Brungardt pointed out. This is the first year the CMC freshman has competed competitively in sports, he said.
Her time of 25:41.4 placed her 45th. That time was good for second all-time in CMC women’s history for the 6K, Brungardt stated.
“She nearly broke the school record set last year, and she will have another chance at it when she travels to nationals in November,” he added.
Lenayah Robertson of Lukachukai, Arizona, ran a “huge” personal best time of 31:05.4, Brungardt stated. The freshman placed 51st and shaved 90 seconds off her time from the Roadrunner Invite at Metro State in Denver last month, the coach noted.
The CMC Eagles will welcome runners to their Oct. 25 home meet in Leadville before traveling for the U.S. Collegiate Athletic Association National Cross-Country Championships on Nov. 7 at Penn State University Fayette in Fayette, Pennsylvania.