Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona opened their seasons with a bang,
while Utah and Nevada played it cool running relay meets.

Colorado

The Harrison Invitational was held on this
year's state championship course. Last year's small schools state
champion, John McGuire from D'Evelyn H.S. won his race by over a
minute in 15:15. In the large school race, new transfers to Denver
South Mohammed Ige and Aden Amhed finished one-two with times
significantly slower than McGuire's at 15:52 and 16:13,
respectively. It should also be mentioned that Ige opened up last
year here on the same course with a time of 15:23, which just could
be a result of the adjustment he's experiencing. But let's keep an
eye on McGuire since the three (McGuire, Ige and Amhed) will all
meet back here on the same course at the state meet in October. In
addition to the individual excitement, Denver South, who we should
all know by now, inherited Ige and Amhed from Denver West, were
regionally ranked in the number 3 position, was upset barely by
unranked Cherry Creek, by a score of 94 to 97.

In the girl's race, at Harrison, Rocky Mountain High School finished
1-2-3, led by Daneille Parry in 18:45. But Cherry Creek High School
ranked in the # 6 position in the Southwest Region) pulled a double
by winning the girls race, in addition to the boys. An excellent
day by the Cherry Creek crew!

What we think is the very next day -- Friday, September 4th -- Denver South was again busy at the Allen Patten Invitational held at the Boulder Recreation Center (Denver West was truly experiencing a "Labor Day Weekend").

Boys Race Results (Allen Patten Invitational):
Teams:
1. Fort Collins 41, 2. Smoky Hill 64, 3. Denver South 66, 4.
Fairview 116, Centaurus 125

Individuals:
1. Mohamud Ige, Denver South, 17:00.1, 2. Daniel Standke, Smoky
Hill, 17:05.9, 3. Tim Gaskins, Centaurus 17:09.3, 4. Pul
Ringenbuerg, Fort Collins 17:16.7, 5. Grant Duin, Smoky Hill 17:45.7

Boys Summary:
Although still early in the season, regionally ranked, Denver South
is defeated by two unranked schools. Denver South's other stud,
Aden Ahmed, finished 6th in 17:23.6. One has to ask, is Denver
South trying to race itself into shape? As I said, its still too
early to tell.

Girls Race (Allen Patten Invitational):
1. Fairview 39, 2. Fort Collins 41, 3. Boulder 95... 5. Smoky Hill
131

Individuals:
1. Katie Follett, Fort Collins 19:11.6, 2. Meredith MacGregor,
Fairview 19:49, 3. Ali Kelly, Colorado Academy 19:34, 4. Alexis
Skarda, Fairview 20:22, 5. Alicia Hoh, Fort Collins 20:46, 6. Alicia
Martinez, Ralston Valley 20:51, 7. Maddie Dengler, Fort Collins,
21:05, 8. Kellly Hight, Fairview 21:11, 9. Megan Martinez, Ralston
Valley, 21:15, 10. Morgan Strumb, Fairview 21:21

Girls Summary:
With what appears to be an upset, #1 team Smoky Hill finishing 5th
behind a slew of other schools with Fairview leading the way. But
Smoky Hill held out its varsity team. Still the girls from Fairview
look very strong finishing with a low 39 points.

New Mexico

The big meet action was at the Del Norte Invite in Albuquerque. The Del Norte course was held in a sandy and hill 6100 feet, but short at 3.05 miles.

Boys Race Results (Del Norte Invitational):
Teams:
1. Albuquerque Academy 19, 2. Rio Rancho 76, 3. Del Norte 92, 4. St.
Pius 114

Individuals:
1. Cody Harper, Academy 17:57, 2. Dustin Martin, Academy 18:10, 3.
Mitch Bible, Academy 18:20, 4. Jason Petty, St. Pius, 18:32, 5.
Keith Blumefeld, Academy, 18:38... 8. Ben Johnson, Academy 18:56.

Race Summary:
#1 ranked in the Southwest Region Albuquerque Academy dominating in
this meet.

Girls Race Results (Del Norte Invitational):
Teams:
1. Albuquerque Academy 33, 2. St. Pius 88, 3. Del Norte 117

Individuals:
1. Ariel Emig, Academy 21:05, 2. Seni Archuleta, Grants 22:04, 3.
Lindsay Academy 22:18... 5. Candice Sisouvanvieng-Kim, Academy 22:21

Race Summary:
The girls from Academy dominating like their counterparts, the boys.

Moriarty Invitational at Edgewood Middle School -- elevation 5300
feet

Boys Race Results:

Teams:
1. La Cueva 41, 2. Gallup 51, 3. Highland 104

Individuals:
1. Nick Arguellas, Highland 17:01, 2. Dennis Hellebuyck, La Cueva
17:04, 3. Kepton Jackson, Gallup 17:28, 4. Chris DeRego, La Cueva
17:32, 5. Philbert Brown, Gallup 17:38.

Race Summary:
#9 ranked Gallup upset by Coach Eddy Hellebuyck's La Cueva team.

Girls Race Results

Teams:
1. Gallup 66, 2. La Cueva 85, 3. Rio Rancho 103

Individuals:
1. Geneva Torres, Rio Rancho 22:55, 2. Irena Ossola, St. Michael's
21:08, 3. Alexandra Hansell, Rio Rancho 21:14, 4. Tess Arm, St.
Michael's 21:29, 5. Lesley Martinson, La Cueva 21:35.

Race Summary:
From the results we received, #7 ranked in the Southwest Gallup
girls had no finishers in the top five leaving us assuming they were
well grouped later in the race.

Arizona

Arizona harriers opened their season in the cool, high air of Flagstaff
(elevation 7000 feet). Several Southwest Region teams butted heads
in the Peaks Invitational with a few shake-ups resulting

Boys Race Results
Team Results:
1. Page 52
Avg. 17:02
2. Flagstaff 95
Avg. 17:20
3. Catus Shadows
Avg. 17:35
4. Hopi 186
Avg. 17:35

Individuals:
1. Robert Hurtado, Bradshaw Mountain 16:32, 2. Weston Jones, Red
Mesa 16:34, 3. Forrest Boughner, Flagstaff 16:35, 4. James Bogner,
Paradise Valley 16:38, 5. Tyler Raspiller, Cactus Shadows 16:42, 6.
Levi Lomeland, Page 16:49, 8. Donovan Tsinnijinnie, Page 16:54, 10.
Derrick Williams, Page 17:01, 11. Nathan Lee, Page 17:07, 17.
Antonio Smith, Page 17:20.

Summary:
Page High School, ranked #6 in the Southwest looking strong 1-5 with
their 5th place runner 17th out of 243 finishers and 37 teams
competing in what might be the next biggest meet to the Doug Conley
Invitational. The Flagstaff boys defeat #10 ranked Hopi sending a
message to all in the region that the Flagstaff dynasty is back. #4
ranked Desert Vista decided to postpone their season opener until next week.

Girls Race Results
Teams Results:
1. Ganado 79
avg. 21:02
2. Desert Vista 103
avg. 21:15
3. Chinle 117
avg. 21:23
4. Flagstaff 190
avg. 21:59
5. Page 195
avg 21:52
30 schools competing

Individual Results
1. Kari Hardt, Queen Creek 19:46, 2. Kaylee Collison, Prescott 20:09,
3. Alandria Reed, Ganado 20:11, 4. Particia Barella, Desert Vista
20:12, 5. Tiffany Sorrell, Window Rock 20:15... 11. Angie Farr,
Desert Vista 20:46, 14. Tara Wilson, Ganado 20:55, 15. Leandra
Thomas, Ganado 20:56, Mary Curly, Ganado 21:19, 27. Lauren Wickham,
Desert Vista 21:37, 29. Danielle Semper, Desert Vista 21:42, 30. Teri
Wilson, Ganado 21:52, 35. Carol Facinelle, Desert Vista 21:57

Girls Race Summary:
Ganado, previously ranked 8th in the state, and Desert Vista,
previously ranked 2nd in the state, are both very young squads with
each having only one senior in their top five. Besides the youth
factor, Ganado looks a little deeper than Desert Vista team with
Ganado's 6th and 7th finishing in the 50th and 52nd positions,
compared to DV's 6th and 7th going 36th and 102nd. #5 Regionally
ranked Mountain Pointe passes on the Peaks Invitational to open their
season a little later.

Utah

The only results that have come in are from the 9th Annual
American Fork Grass Relays. Running a distance of 2.083 miles
(approximately 20 seconds longer than two miles) and jumping over hay
bales along the way, saw Jared Rohatinsky (the Rohatinsky Dynasty
continues) of Provo, turning in the fastest time of the day. The
girls fastest time was turned in by Vanessa Hawkins from Timanogos,
with a time of 12:24. The winner of the boys team race was host
American Fork with a total time of 54:37. Finishing in 4th was #8
ranked (Southwest Region) Judge Memorial. The girls race was won by
Fremont, state 5A defending champs and ranked #4 in the Southwest
Region, with a total time of 1:04:57.
>>
Boy's Team Results
Boys Varsity Team Results:
1.American Fork 56:20
Mike Felix 11:09
T.J.Jackson 11:07
Jacob Moir 11:13
Nathan Lye 11:34
John Bell 11:17
2.Jordan 56.34
Jared Bienlien 10:43
Jacob Wagstaff 11:31
Ryan Bingham 11:15
Brian Summers 12:06
Miles Batty 10:59
3.Davis 57.40
Carl Dixon 11:42
Jack Whicker 11:47
Brock Casselman 11:48
Seth Frischknecht 11:43
Josh Adams 10:40
4.Judge Memorial 57.42
Brandon Brown 12:30
Patrick Smythe 10:43
Nick Gaitan 11:59
Andrew Hirning 11:29
Nick Hlady 11:01
5.Provo 57:49
Will Taylor 11:49
Jong Park 11:49
Spencer Olsen 11:52
Zach Ostraff 11:52
Jared Rohatinsky 10.27
20 teams competing
>>
Girls Varsity Relays Results:
>>
1.Fremont 1:07:00
Cassie Ricks 12:55
Katie Chugg 13:29
Lyndsey Slater 13:54
Jessie Chugg 13:41
Lexie Meyer 13:01
2.Provo 1:08:35
Joanna Blackburn 13:17
Alyssa Andrus 13:33
Jennifer Blackburn 13:53
Donna Manuele 13:52
Amy Andrus 14:00
3.American Fork 1:09:17
Sausha Sommers 13:06
Leslie Rose 13:49
Jill Greenwood 14:26
Lisa Tubb 13:36
Lindsey Grimes 14:20
4.Timpanogos 1:10:07
Vanessa Hawkins 12:47
Sarah Handley 14:18
Kimberly Bringhurst 14:55
Emily Hawkins 14:41
Meghan Reilly 13:26
5.Judge Memorial 1:10:15
Hannah Vickery 14:18
Sam Gaffney 12:53
Kassie Wright 15:11
Kattie Barrows 14:03
Maggie Nichols 13:50
17 teams competing

Nevada

This weekend's big meet was the Lake Mead Invitational, a 2 mile race
by class. The fastest time of the day for the girls was turned in by
Silverado's senior Kelly Fernandez who ran the course in 14:16, while
another excellent time was run by Wendy Harris (LUND) in the Junior
race in 14:17. Senior Josh Sillitoe from Basic H.S. out of
Henderson, NV. ran the fast time for the boys in 11:37.

Next week will be at the 34th Annual Las Vegas Invitational with 35 teams and
852 athletes entered.