CMC cross-country team tops two colleges at Alamosa meet

CMC Cross Country Running Team
From left, in blue, Colorado Mountain College runners Connor McDermott, Tyrone Chavez, Chris Rohlf, Caleb Neel and Jason Macaluso at the start of Adams State University’s 8K collegiate race in Alamosa on Sept. 7. Photo Darren Brungardt

On Sept. 7, the CMC cross-country running team competed in Alamosa at Adams State University’s Joe I. Vigil Open, coming in fifth place out of seven teams.

“It was great to see the guys compete in a big race,” said coach Darren Brungardt. A total of 70 racers competed in the 8K. “I am very proud of how all of our team raced today.”

The 8K was the second meet this season for the newly sanctioned team. The CMC Eagles runners now race as part of the National Junior College Athletic Association.

Jason Macaluso, who clocked the fastest time among CMC’s racers in the men’s 8K at the CMC Leadville meet on Aug. 31, improved his school record time to 28:51.9 and finished 30th in the latest race. Chris Rohlf consistently moved up the race to finish 42nd, while Connor McDermott finished 44th overall.

Caleb Neel dropped eight minutes off his time to finish 45th overall, and Tyrone Chavez dropped almost five minutes off his time to finish 47th overall.

“We beat two college teams, Dine College and Navajo Technical University, and nearly beat an NCAA team in Regis,” said Brungardt. “This will be a great goal for us at Metro State when we face Regis again.

The team races next at Metropolitan State University in Denver on Oct. 5. Check out  Colorado Mountain College Cross Country Team for more information.