Panthers run home

Saratoga Cross Country had their yearly chance to showcase their speed and resilience for the local fans last week as they hosted the Shanna Ward Memorial Invitational at the Saratoga Hot Springs Resort on September 25. 

The long distance Panther runners saw plenty of competition as the boys varsity had 98 runners all together and the girls varsity had 78 runners. Twins Grant and Grady Bartlett managed to secure top spots overall, with both teams seeing runners do well in their respective heats.

As has been the case since the start of the 2020/2021 season, the meet was split into heats to limit the number of competitors during each run. 

Boys

Grant and Grady Bartlett ran in the B1 Boys Varsity Division which saw Grant finish with a time of 17:36.44 to place 1st in that division. Grady Bartlett came in 7th in the B1 Division with a finishing time of 18:31.87. 

Meanwhile, in the B2 Boys Varsity Division, Calvin Condict came in 3rd with a time of 20:58.07. Encampment's Brayden Barkhurst came in 4th in the B2 Division with a time of 21:15.35 and Kelton Johnson finished in 13th place in the same division with a time of 23:18.46.

Overall, Grant came in 2nd place with his time as he trailed Campbell County's Sam Kjerstad-who ran in the A1 Boys Varsity Division-by only 8 seconds. Grady, meanwhile, came in 13th overall with his time.

Condict placed 50th overall, Barkhurst placed 53rd overall and Johnson placed 75th overall.

Girls

The girls team also did well in their respective heats and overall. Marilee Williams and Encampment's Amber Stubbs ran in the B3 Girls Varsity Division while Kaitlyn and Jaden Campbell ran in the B4 Girls Varsity Division. 

In the B3 Division, Williams finished in 9th with a time of 22:57.14 while Stubbs finished 16th in the division with a time of 24:37.78. Meanwhile, in the B4 Division, Kaitlyn Campbell finished in 2nd place with a time of 26:05.25 and Jaden Campbell came in 10th place with a time of 29:45.85.

Overall, Williams secured a spot in 18th place, a single millisecond ahead of Lyman's Emma Beck. Stubbs came in 33rd overall with her time, Kaitlyn Campbell came in 48th overall and Jaden Campbell came in 64th overall.

The Panthers hit the road again this week as they compete at the Wheatland Invitational on October 2 in Wheatland. This is the second-to-last race before the 2A State Championship on October 24.