Ladies take third
James, Swentesky earn all-conference
Cold, wet and windy conditions couldn’t keep Newcastle’s cross-country runners from improving at the 3A East Conference meet in Wheatland, where the Lady Dogies placed third and two runners earned all-conference honors.
LJ James finished second in 20 minutes, 29 seconds, while Christine Swentesky placed 10th in 21:52. Their finishes helped Newcastle secure its highest girls conference team placing in several years, according to coach Sally Hoover.
The Dogie boys placed fifth, led by Jaden McGuire’s 19th-place finish in 19:15.
Although the weather presented a challenge, the moisture let up and the sun came out in time for the races. Newcastle’s runners also brought experience from their trip to the same course two weeks earlier.
“This was our second trip to the course and everyone was determined to have a better go at it, despite the worse weather conditions,” Hoover said.
Every Newcastle runner improved on their time from that earlier meet, an accomplishment Hoover called incredible considering the weather.
Lucas Scribner and Chanel Hanson recorded personal bests, while Kendrick Blumenthal and Hollie Swentesky posted season bests. Scribner finished 30th in the boys race in 20:12, and Hanson placed 35th among the girls in 24:58.
Behind James and Christine Swentesky, the Lady Dogies had three runners finish consecutively. Cheyanne Bloom placed 34th, Hanson finished 35th and Hollie Swentesky took 36th.
In the boys race, Dylan Conley finished 28th, followed by Scribner in 30th and Lane Carter in 31st. Blumenthal rounded out Newcastle’s top five in 42nd.
Hoover praised the boys’ efforts against an exceptionally fast field, noting that Newcastle’s top five pushed together and finished strongly, with personal-best or near-personal-best performances.
“The entire team pushed and left it all on the course,” she said.
Newcastle will close its season at the state meet Saturday, Oct. 24, in Cheyenne. Races begin at 10:30 a.m.
“We head to Cheyenne next Saturday for the state meet
and one more opportunity to prove just how fast we can go,” Hoover said.