The inaugural Camp Verde Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 1, brought only three other high schools to compete with the Cowboys but Head Coach Mike O’Callaghan said they have to start somewhere.
“Overall, it was a good day. The course was well received, and all the coaches said it was a good race and they’re looking forward to coming back,” O’Callaghan said.
Senior Cave Colton from Apache Junction High School won the race Saturday, finishing first overall with an 18:40 time.
The 18:40 time will be a benchmark for future runners who compete in this race, O’Callaghan said. The Camp Verde High School cross-country team plans to host this meet every season.
The first Camp Verde runner to cross the finish line for the boys was sophomore Joey Benson, who finished 10th overall with a 22:13 time. He was fourth among sophomores competing in the race.
Next up was senior Johnny Hudson, who was 17th overall with a 24:20 time, while freshman Michael Malloy was 20th overall with a 26:30 time.
Freshman Max Evans came in 22nd overall with a 27:38, and sophomore teammate Ryan Mallow was 23rd with a 27:40 time.
In the girls race, sophomore Amber Yocum took fifth overall with a 27:10 time while senior teammate Cassie Alvarez was behind her in sixth with a 27:51 time. Sophomore Shelby Monroe was seventh overall with a 28:18 time.
Apache Junction senior Caitlin Kressler won the inaugural meet Saturday for the girls, finishing first overall with a 23:39 time.
“It was a challenging course having to run through Butler Park but it looked like everyone enjoyed themselves,” O’Callaghan said.
Saturday’s meet signaled the halfway point of the 2011 season for Camp Verde, which will participate in the Arizona Lutheran Invitational on Wednesday, Oct. 12.
The next closest event Camp Verde fans will be able to see their Cowboys in is the Yavapai County Championships at Antelope Hills Golf Course in Prescott on Wednesday, Oct. 19.
The Yavapai County Championships are scheduled to start at 2 p.m.
