Broncos cross country team competes in Wilbur, Moses Lake

The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Broncos cross country team opened the season with a busy week of competition.

The Broncos ran in the Wilbur-Creston jamboree at the Big Bend Golf and Country Club on Sept. 5.

The team ran a distance of two miles during the race. Although the course was not 5,000 meters, Head Coach Morgan Walker said the jamboree was an opportunity to see the progress athletes have made since the first week of practice.

Linnea Schafer finished in fourth place in the girls’ two-mile race with a time of 14 minutes and 50 seconds. Jordyn Fode finished with a time of 26:10.

On the boys’ side, Samuel Michels led the Broncos with a time of 12:52 while Eli Michels finished the race in 15:25.

Ethan Hughes clocked in at 23:00 and Erik Hughes finished in 24:39.

Three days after the Wilbur-Creston jamboree, LRS competed in the 5,000 junior varsity race at the Moses Lake Invite at Blue Heron Park.

Walker said she had the athletes compete in the JV race because it was the first 5,000 meter race for the majority of the team.

In the boys’ race, Samuel Michels finished ninth overall with a time of 20:40.64. Eli Michels completed the race in 24:50.16, Ethan Hughes clocked in 36:46.65 and Erik Hughes finished in 38:42.51.

Schafer took second place in the girls’ race with a time of 24:41.72 while Fode clocked in at 41:23.26.

Walker said she thought the athletes ran well in the first 5,000 meter race, though they will have to work hard to improve their times. While the athletes have work ahead of them, she is excited to see how they progress during the season.

After a short break from competition, the Broncos will race in an All-League meet at the Colfax Golf Club on Sept. 18.

Before the league race, Walker said the team will focus on building leg strength and endurance, especially when it comes to running on hills.