Yuma High School’s cross country teams got their seasons off to a great start, last Saturday in Elizabeth.
The girls and boys teams competed in the Elizabeth Challenge for their first competition in 2020.
Coach Robert Zahller took six runners for both teams, and witnessed an encouraging effort.
The boys team had four place in the top 18, powering the Indians to a third-place finish in the team standings with 66 points. The Classical Academy won the boys title with 26 points, while Woodland Park was second with 43. Elizabeth was fourth with 114, and Mitchell fifth with 127. Runners from seven schools competed at Elizabeth, including Colorado Springs School and Vanguard School.
Sophomore Javier Duran paced the Indians by placing sixth with a time of 20 minutes, 45 seconds. Freshman Angel Escobar tied for seventh in 20:46, 
Yuma’s girls had three in the top 11, finishing fourth in the team standings with 73 points. The Classical Academy was first with 41 points, Vanguard School second with 60, Woodland Park third with 64, and Elizabeth fifth with 108.
Senior Shelby Blach led the way for the girls, finishing fifth in 24:55. Freshman Ashley Ibanez was seventh in 25:41. Sophomore Hailey Eyring finished 11th in 26:18, and junior Meidi Reyes 23rd in 28:23. Junior Samantha Wells finished 30th in 30:28, and sophomore Nuvia Vega 31st in 30:48.
The top five placers counted toward the team standings.
Yuma’s cross country teams are back in action Saturday when they travel to Greeley for the Andy Myers Invitational.
