The Grand County High School cross country team dominated the girls division and hung tough in the boys division at the Red Rock Cross Country Invitational at the Moab Golf Club on Wednesday, Sept. 5, against 11 other teams, including some of the teams Grand competes with at the region level.
Sophomore Kylah Ricks ran the home course in first place in the girls race at 19:32.6, and was followed by sophomore Anika Scherer in third place at 20:58.1, and junior Jessie Anderson in fourth at 21:09.9. Freshman Bella Welch ran 15th at 23:10.0, and senior Mercedes Zunich ran 16th at 23:22.5.
Grand County High School cross country coach Randy Martin said Welch and Zunich are both getting stronger as the season progresses while they compete for the four spot.
“It’s pretty exciting,” he said. “Not only did we have three in the top four, but our No. 4 and No. 5 runners, Bella Welch and Mercedes Zunich, are getting faster and faster. We’re really deep on the girls side.”
The boys had three runners in the top 10, anchored by junior Evan Ellison in fourth place at 16:44.5. He was followed by junior Malachi Ricks in seventh place at 17:12.4, and freshman Arthur Hawks in 10th at 17:23.2. Senior Jameson Hawks placed 20th at 18:49.5, and junior Soren Indergard placed 32nd at 19:14.8.
The Red Devils finished third behind region foe Emery and Monticello, which Martin said has an exceptionally strong boys cross country team. Among the teams Grand defeated were San Juan, Providence Hall, Richfield and Manti.
“We beat both Richfield and Manti, which doesn’t happen often,” Martin said. “We lost Ryan Lewis, but we gained Arthur Hawks. Put him in there with Evan Ellison and Malachi Ricks and that’s a pretty good trio.”
The Red Devils are next scheduled to compete at the Brigham Young University (BYU) Autumn Classic on Saturday, Sept. 15, at the Eastbay Golf Course in Provo, where many of the top teams and runners in not only Utah, but surrounding states as well, will compete.
Martin said that instead of keeping the team together, he’ll split runners up to race with their classes, with the exception of Ellison and the Ricks siblings, who he plans to have run the varsity race.
Following BYU, the Red Devils will run at the Emery Invitational in Castle Dale, on Wednesday, Sept. 19, at 4 p.m.
“It’s pretty exciting. Not only did we have three in the top four, but our No. 4 and No. 5 runners, Bella Welch and Mercedes Zunich, are getting faster and faster.”
Boys take third, beat pair of region rivals
“It’s pretty exciting. Not only did we have three in the top four, but our No. 4 and No. 5 runners, Bella Welch and Mercedes Zunich, are getting faster and faster.”
