Yuma High School’s cross country teams, which made history last Friday, will get to compete at the Platte Valley Invitational in Kersey, today, September 18.
YHS went to remote learning Thursday and Friday after learning Wednesday of a positive COVID-19 case in the school. The school announced Friday that contact tracing has been done, and those who did not have direct exposure can return to competition. It also announced in-person learning would resume Monday.
The runners made Yuma High School athletic history was made last Friday, as both the girls and boys cross country teams won their team titles at the Fort Morgan Invitational.
It almost assuredly is the first time both teams won the team title at the same meet.
While several of this year’s team members also ran last year, cross country has benefitted greatly from volleyball and football not being played this fall as some key contributors would have been playing one of those sports instead.
The boys team might be impacted the other way, however, if football ends up being played this fall, as some runners might switch over before the cross country season is done.
Yuma’s boys and girls teams both had four runners finish in the top 10 to power their team victories last Friday at Riverside Park in Fort Morgan.
The girls scored 29 points, while Fort Morgan was second with 36, The Academy of Charter Schools third with 76, and Wiggins fourth with 101. Runners from nine schools competed in Fort Morgan.
Shelby Blach led the way for the Indians, as the senior placed fourth with a time of 21 minutes, 5.9 seconds.
Freshman Ashley Ibanez was close behind, placing sixth in 21:37.7.
Sophomore Hailey Eyring was eighth in 22:36.9.
Sophomore Lea Richardson was ninth in 22:55.
Junior Samantha Wells rounded out the team scoring, placing 17th in 24:43.2. Meidi Reyes was 20th in 24:54.4, and Nuvia Vega 22nd in 24:58.3.
Yuma’s boys won their team title with 31 points. Fort Morgan was second with 49, DSST Conservatory Green third with 70, Riverdale Ridge fourth with 81, and The Academy of Charter Schools fifth with 110. There were a total of 10 schools represented at the meet.
Sophomore Javier Duran paced the Indians, placing second in 17:58.7.
Senior Braden Smith was right behind him in third with a time of 18:09.4.
Freshman Angel Escobar was fifth in 18:25.
Sophomore Jesus Ross was eighth in 18:54.5.
Junior Jaxson Lungwitz rounded out the team scoring, placing 14th in 19:08.2. Freshman Ruben Vega was 30th in 21:00.5.
