LEADVILLE – The six runners who formed Colorado Mountain College’s first sanctioned cross-country running team in August are looking back on a productive season of competitive 8K racing in the National Junior College Athletic Association.
“I look at the work that they have all put in and how they have come together as a group and that makes me beam,” said head coach Darren Brungardt.
The team premiered and hosted its first meet at the 10,000 Foot Invite Aug. 31 on CMC Leadville’s running trails, and ran in their last big meet of the season at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs XC Open Oct. 12. In between the team competed in Alamosa Sept. 7 and Denver Oct. 5.
Standout moments
Runners consistently achieved personal records with each meet. During the second meet at Adams State University in Alamosa, Caleb Neel dropped eight minutes off his time to finish 45th overall, and Tyrone Chavez dropped almost five minutes from his time to finish 47th overall. At that meet, the team came in fifth out of seven collegiate teams.
Several runners finished their 8K season hovering around the 30-minute mark.
As Brungardt looks back on the team’s first year, he is looking forward to the future of CMC Eagles cross-country running.
“Those men are exactly what we needed in our first year,” he said. “They are like brothers. They gelled so well. Each man was a critical cog in this team’s machine. I cannot wait to see what they will do next year for the Eagles.”