Tigers XC challenged by busy schedule

The Summit Tigers cross-country team competed in their third meet in a week last Friday at the Glenwood Springs Invitational, held at the CMC Spring Valley Campus.

The girls team finished fourth of nine teams competing in the meet.

Of their in-league competitors, they were only bested by Battle Mountain. Grandview took first overall among girls.

For the Tigers boys, Liam Meirow put up a strong race, finishing first overall. The boys team finished seventh of 10 teams competing.

Ruthie Boyd led the way for the Tigers girls, outsprinting Basalt’s Hailey Swurbil at the finish to earn second place overall in 21:11. Erin Norton of Grandview finished first in 20:15.

Katherine Pappas was Summit’s second highest finisher, crossing the line in seventh in 21:29.

Head coach Heather Quarantillo said, “Ruthie and Katherine did a great job pacing together early on. Ruthie gradually increased her pace in the last mile of the race.”

Meirow got out to a strong start, according to Quarantillo, and paced a large lead pack for the first half-mile. He then took over first and gradually increased his lead on the field for the remainder of the race. Meirow finished in 17:15. The next closest racer was Matthew Berberick from Heritage with a 17:51.

Quarantillo said it was a challenge having three races in such a short period, and the team is feeling the effects.

Buena Vista

Earlier in the week the team competed in a meet hosted by Buena Vista. The Tigers girls team finished second to Salida. Host Buena Vista finished third of the seven teams competing. Katherine Pappas had a strong showing. She led half the race, but was then passed by Taryn Ceglowski from Salida. Pappas held onto second place for the remainder of the race finishing in 22:01.

Ruthie Boyd finished in eighth place with a time of 22:52. McKenna Ramsey was ninth in a tie of 23:03.

The Tiger boys finished in fifth of eight teams.

Robert Koegel lead the way for the Tigers finishing in fifth in 19:44.

The team’s next meet is Tuesday in Littleton at the Runner’s Roost Invitational.

Story compiled by Sebastian Foltz with contributions by Heather Quarantillo