Saratoga strides at Sprague

The Saratoga Middle/High School Cross Country trekked to the state Capitol of Cheyenne Friday to run in the Leroy Sprague Invitational, which was held Friday at Prairie View Golf Course.

The Invite hosted teams from around the state, including the Panthers' varsity, junior varsity as well as boys' and girls' junior high school teams. The meet featured several hundred runners from around the state.

The high school boys varsity class ran the 5-kilometer run at the course, and had a field of 188 competitors. Thanks to some good results by the boys, Saratoga earned a fourth-place finish among some very large competitors.

Jarom Herring ran the 5k in 19:33, good for 24th place in the 188-runner group. Joey Gonzales crossed the line 12 seconds later taking 30th place. Gavin Bartlett ran the race in 19:50, taking 33rd and Aaron Detterer took 35th with his time of 19:52.

Boys' junior varsity runners also performed in the 5K, and the results there were just as good for the team as the varsity runners' results, with Logan Wells running the event in 21:21 taking 14th place. Jeremiah Debar took 15th by coming in one second after teammate Wells at 21:22.

Saratoga's Middle school runners also brought the glory home from Cheyenne, with a second-place finish in the 1.8-mile run from Grant Bartlett with brother Grady Bartlett finishing a mere five seconds later taking 3rd place.

Middle school girls, of which there were 134 runners, had Saratoga's always fleet Makenna King turn in her 1.8-mile time of 13:12, taking 17th place for her effort. Marilee Williams, in a rush, finished in 15:32, taking 75th in the field.

Next up, the team will be in training, holding a simulated race in Saratoga according to a schedule previously published by the school. According to the schedule, the simulated race will take place either Thursday of Friday.

After their simulated race, the team's next stop will be at the state championship, scheduled to be held Oct. 21 in Sheridan.