Coloradans ran with the best in the nation in scholastic cross country Saturday in San Diego.
All considered it a learning experience.
Ralston Valley’s Kaitie Vanatta took fourth in the girls event, easily the best local finish. The sophomore, who has won consecutive Class 4A titles in Colorado, finished the 5K course at Balboa Park in 17 minutes, 57 seconds – 28 seconds behind national champ Kathy Kroeger of Franklin, Tenn.
Kristen McGlynn of Platte Canyon, the only other local female entrant, was 35th (19:14).
For boys, Richard Medina of Grand Junction was 18th (15:52); Joseph Manilafasha of North was 25th (16:07); Angel Tolev of Thornton was 27th (16:09); and Evan Appel of Dakota Ridge was 29th (16:12). The national championship was won by Chad Hall of Big Bear Lake, Calif. (15:20).
Vanatta’s finish left her feeling gratified but aiming for more.
“I’m definitely going to try for this next year. It has been a great experience,” she said.
Appel, another sophomore, concurred: “I’m going to make the most of the next two years, and this is the place to do it.”
Medina, who said he was impressed with the overall talent, chased his future roommate at the University of Colorado, New Mexico’s Matt Tebo, who was fifth (15:28).
McGlynn, bound for Baylor, knew she was a long way from Bailey and Colorado’s 3A.
“There’s really no way to prepare for that level,” she said. “There was definitely a lot of competition.”
Tolev, still considering his college choice, said he was “shooting for the top 15. I had a pretty disappointing race … it’s my first national meet, so I had built myself up a lot for it.”
Vanatta helped the Midwest Region handily win the girls team race (by nine points over the South as the top seven Midwest girls placed); the boys finished a distant fourth of four regions (57 points behind champion West, with all but Appel figuring into the total).
