Caldwell run
BY DAVID PECK
Lovell senior Jaclyn
Caldwell wrapped up a suc-
cessful cross country ca-
reer at LHS with her third
straight top-10 finish at the
Wyoming State Cross Coun-
try Meet at the VA Hospital
grounds in Sheridan Satur-
day, the last two years com-
ing at the competitive Class
3A level.
Caldwell moved up one
place to ninth this year af-
ter placing 10th a year ago,
running a time of 20:12.95
Saturday. Running in the
last race of the day, 3A
girls times were a bit slow-
er this year than last, which
Lovell coach Caleb Sanders
attributed to the athletes
“waiting around” for the oth-
er races to be run. Caldwell
ran a time of 19:59.39 as a
junior on the same course
but finished one spot lower.
“I think the reason the
girls were slower is that
they had to wait around like
in a track meet for the dis-
tance races,” Sanders said.
“The boys times were fast, I
thought.
“Jaclyn ran really good,
excellent. To go from 10th at
Regionals to ninth at State,
she beat some girls who beat
her last week. She ran way
better at State.”
Sanders said Caldwell
looked strong throughout
the race.
“She described herself
as feeling good the whole
race,” he said. “She was fol-
lowing a group, then passed
the group, which“ is not
something I normally see
out of Jaclyn. She start-
ed fast and finished strong.
I was really excited about
Jackie.”
Caldwell would have
placed third in Class 2A
with her time.
Also running well was
sophomore sister Jessica
Caldwell, who placed 36th in
the field of 90 top runners
with a time of 21:53.97.
“I’ll take that time,”
Sanders said. “She Would
have been all-state (top 10)
in 2A. She ran really good.
She’s been consistent all
S
, DAVID PECK
Ben Cornia (left) and Kyle Wolving'ton at the
head of pack during the 2A boys state croSs country
race Saturday in Sheridan. Both sophomores ran
personal-record times at the state meet.
year. Both she and Jackie
had good seasons.”
The third runner for
Lovell was senior Caitlyn
Lundberg, who placed 80th
with a time of 26:02.97, and
fourth was junior Savannah
Jolley, who finished 85th at
26:36.35.
“I was happy with Cait-
lyn and Savannah,” Sand-
ers said. “I was proud of
the effort Savannah put in
all year, her first season of
CHRONICLE
01'
Lovell sophomore Jessica Caldwell was the second '
Lovell runner to cross the finish line behind her all-.
t October 29, 2015 lThe Lovell Chronicle l9
to third tright all-state
DAVID PECK
state lsister Jaclyn during the Class 2A girls state
cross f‘country race Saturday. Jessica ran a time of
21:53.97.
cross country.”
Freshman Megan Cor-
nia finished 86th at 26:58.98,
senior Afton George 87th at
27:27.23.
“Afton was work-
ing through some inju-
ries,” Sanders said. “I was
proud of the girls in gener-
al. Cross country is a hard
sport It’s an internal, not
external sport. The kids fo-
cus on what they can do
themselves.”
The Lovell girls placed
\ 12th in the final team stand-
ings with 279 points, ahead
of Torrington and just be-
hind Lander.
BOYS RESULTS
Senior Jacob Newman
was Lovell’s top finisher in
the 3A boys race, placing
15th with a time of 17:27.16,
a minute faster and 11 plac-
es better than his finish a
year ago.
finish
“I was pleased with Ja-
cob and his finish to the sea-
son,” Sanders said. “Mental-
ly, he sees himself as a miler
and an 800 guy. He’s been
fighting that, but he finished
strong. He was happy with
it. He wanted to be all-state,
but we were happy. He did
everything he could to make
it happen. That was reward-
ing. You go home without
any regrets. He would have
been third in 2A.”
Next on the Lovell team
was sophomore Brent Sny-
der, who finished 50th in the
100-runner field with a time
of 18:56.20.
“Brent ran faster than
he ran on the same course
in September,” Sanders not-
ed. “He described being bot-
tlenecked at the beginning
Saturday.”
Sophomores Ben Cor-
nia and Kyle Wolvington
finished 76th and 77*, re-
spectively, with times of
20:03.48 and 20:15.22.
“Those are both PRs,”
Sanders said. “I was glad
they did that.”
Freshman Hunter
Steenbakkers finished 89th
with a time of 21:34.70,
freshman Brenden Lund-
berg 97th at 23:15.53 and
junior Kyle Burton 98th at
23:25.66.
“Hunter had a great
season,” Sanders said. “I
was very happy with him.
I was happy with Kyle and
Brenden. Kyle got a PR.
“It was a good meet —
perfect weather. I loved it.”
The Lovell boys placed
12th Saturday with 300
points, ahead of Wheatland
and Rawlins and 12 points
behind Douglas.
Twomey tap 10 at stateCrOSS country again
BY DAVID PECK
The Rocky Mountain
cross country team wrapped
up a successful 2015 sea-
son with some strong per-
formances on a picture per-
fect day at the Class 2A
State Meet held at the Wyo-
ming VA Hospital grounds in
Sheridan.
Junior Dominic Nom-
ey earned all-state honors for
the second straight season
by placing 10th with a time
of 18:23.30 after running
18:25.82 a year ago. Tw0m-
ey placed sixth last year af-
ter a 16th-place finish as a
freshman.
The Rocky boys fin-
ished fifth as a team with 84
points, ahead of Bums/Pine
Bluffs and behind champion
Wyoming Indian, Saratoga,
Wright and Lyman.
“Four runners who ran
most of the meets with us
this year were unable to fin-
ish the season,” Rocky coach .
John Bernhisel said. “They
were four of my top six run-
ners. That was a disappoint—
ment, but those individuals
who went worked hard the
whole season and I thought
ran as well as they could on
that day.
“Sheridan is a pretty
tough course, with a lot of
up-hills that are deceptively
difficult. To try and compare
times with the conference
meet is difficult.”
Bernhisel said he is
proud of Twomey’s effort
Saturday.
“Dominic has been run-
ning with a hip injury (tendi-
nitis) for about three weeks,”
Bernhisel said. “I really ad-
mire him for gutting it out
through that injury. The con-
ference meet was the best
race of his life.
“Also Saturday he twist-
ed his ankle about halfway
through the race. I’m thrilled
that he got 10“‘. It’s a credit
to Dominic. His hip bothered
him a ton. He deserved to get
all-state. He’s one of the best
runners in the state.”
Sophomore Lathan May
was the next runner for the
Grizzlies, placing 19th with a
time of 19:44.72.
“Lathan ran a better race
Saturday than he did at the
conference meet,” Bernhisel
said. May placed 10th at the
Regional meet with a time
of 19:25. “He was 19 seconds
slower on a tougher course. I
Wish I had three more weeks
with Lathan, because he’s fig-
ured out how to race. He’s not
even close to his potential.”
The third Rocky finish-
er was senior Ryker Everett,
who placed 36th with a time of
21:00.77.
“Ryker also ran a great
race,” Bernhisel said. “This
was his first year running.
He had a great effort, ran a
gutsy race. I wish I had him
for another year or two. He
has talent.”
Junior Trevan, Lytle
and senior Josh McCrack-
en placed 39th and 40‘“, re-
spectively, at 21:16.21 and
21:20.30.
“Josh. and Trevan ran
very close to their conference.
times, which is all I can hope
for,” Bernhisel said. “I want-
, DAVID PECK
Rocky junior Livia Higgins cruises to the finish
line as the second Lady Grizzly to finish the state
2A girls cross country race Saturday in Gillette.
Higgins “ran the race of the day” for the team,
Coach John Bernhisel said.
ed everyone to have their
best effort and finish the race
with no regrets. Josh and
Trevan did that.” ’
Freshman Kyler Muffett
finished 46‘“, covering the
course in 22:40.65.
“Kyler came out late in
the season,” Bernhisel said.
“I’m excited to have him for
three more years.
GIRLS RESULTS
The Lady Grizzlies didn’t
have any all-state runners,
but freshman Grace Wass-
mer made a strong impres-
sion, placing 17th with a time
of 23:34.51.
“Sometimes it’s hard be-
ing a freshman at the state
meet,” Bernhisel said. “They
can get a little intimidat-
ed and can get a little ner-
vous. Grace had an amaz-
ing season. She exceeded all
expectations.”
Placing 24th for the Lady
Grizz was junior Livia Hig-
gins, running a time of 24:43.
“Livia ran the race of the
day for our team,” Bernhis-
el said. “She ran smooth the
whole race and ran the best
race of the year at the right
time.”
Burlington sophomore
Callin Preator placed 26th at
25:04.70, just about 10 sec-
onds slower than her time
at the Regional meet, on a
tougher course.
Rocky junior Marissa Ar-
nold and Burlington junior
Pacee Garza placed 30th and
31“, respectively, at 25:43.27
and 25:45.30.
“Marissa has been run-
ning with a sore ankle the
last month. I appreciate any
athlete who doesn’t give up,
and she didn’t give up,” Ber-
nhisel said. “Marissa is one
of the best athletes ever at
Rocky Mountain, and I ap-
preciate having her out
for the team. She brought
leadership, with Livia,
to the team and made a big
difference.
“Pacee was the only one
DAVID PECK
Rocky Mountain senior Ryker Everett storms down
the final stretch at the state cross country meet in
Sheridan Saturday.
on the team who ran faster
at the state meet than she
ran at the conference meet.
That’s all I can ask for.”
Freshmen Jacque Leon-
hardt and Lindsay Tindle
finished 36th and 41“, re-
spectively, at 26:15.05 and
29:21.94.
“Jacque ran so well at
the conference meet,” Bern-
hisel said. “She ran hurt in
this race. I’m proud of her for
finishing the race and am ex-
cited I can have her for three
more years.
“Lindsay works hard.
She improved her time by
eight minutes in the course
of the season. That’s all I
can ever hope for. She never
missed practice and did her
best.” ;
The Lady Grizzlies
placed sixth as a team with
88 points, well ahead of
Tongue River and 18 points
behind Saratoga. Bums/
Pine Bluffs won the “girls
team title.
A GREAT SEASON
Bernhisel looked back on
the successful season, say-
ing, “Every year I coach I get
a greater realization of the
value of school athletics. A]-
most 40 years ago, a middle
school coach named David
Barnes in Fort Bragg, Calif,
saw me as a skinny kid who
didn’t want to play football
and suggested I run cross
country. He was ‘pretty cool’
so I went along. He made
running interesting.
“We ran in mud, along
the beach and under the
canopy of 200-foot redwood
trees. Somehow my love of
nature, math and sports co-
alesced into a' passion for
running, and I have never
stopped and it has changed
my life.”
Bemhisel’s enthusiasm
is passed on to his team.
“As a coach, my prima-
ry goal is to make running
fun,” he said. “Besides my
own children, my legacy in
life will be all the runners
I’ve helped create. I still get
e-mails from excited former
runners I coached 25 years
ago that tell me they’ve run
their first marathon or that
their children are now run-
ning cross country. Each con-
tact motivates me even more
as a coach.
“This year’s team has
been amazing to work
with. They put up with cac-
tus in their feet, muddy
shoes and running along riv-
ers and canals all over the
basin. They worked hard
when injured or sick and on
days that were way too hot. I
can’t keep up with very many
of my runners anymore, but I
hope that my passion for fit-
ness and running like a mad-
man down the sand hills will
stick with them for long time.
“Having great assistants
like Tim Jones, Penny Tol-
man and Mindy Mickelson
frees me up to enjoy the run-
ning, great Wyoming scen-
ery and to make connections
with young people, and hope-
fully I’ve changed a few lives
along the way. It’s been an-
other great season for RMHS
cross country and I’m already
excited for next year.”
