Lauren Martin
The Paw Print
On September 11, the Adams State Grizzlies cross country team hosted the 17th annual Joe I. Vigil invitational at Cattails Golf Course. Adams State men’s cross country team once again received a perfect team score of 15 points.
The top finisher for the Grizzlies was senior Ryan McNiff. McNiff finished second overall behind former teammate Brian Medigovich who competed for Hansons Running Club, making McNiff first in the team score with a time of 24:34 for the 8,000-meter course. The next finisher was senior Luke Cragg. Cragg completed the course with a time of 24:46.
Sophomore Keegan Calmes was next to come across the finish line. Calmes ran the course in a time of 25:22, which was an 8 second improvement from last year. Following Calmes was senior Brandon Birdsong. Birdsong ran 25:29, nearly a 20 second improvement from last years Joe I. Vigil race. Finishing out the top five was Drew Soucy, a fifth-year senior for Adams State. Soucy completed the course in a time of 25:31 for a great start to his season.
Not only did Adams finish with a perfect score, they had the next two fastest times. Matt Bond, running unattached for the Grizzlies completed the race in a time of 25:35. Closely following Bond was teammate Jovanny Godinez. Godinez ran a time of 25:47, while Junior Drew Graham finished in 11 place running a time of 26:11.
Freshman Cody Rosengarten, junior David Sanchez, junior Frankie Quijada, freshman Tabor Stevens, junior Antoine Malartre and junior Joey Divizia finished in 12 through 17 respectfully, ran unattached for Adams State.
After the race, Cragg was asked what contributed to his improvement from last years Joe I. Vigil performance. Cragg responded, “This year I have worked on being more consistent with my training. Not having an injury while adding another year of training to my base has allowed me to improve from last season.”
“The team this year is like an arctic dog sledding team. The best team of dogs isn’t the one with all purebred huskies. The best team is the one with dogs who have more diversity in their blood. We are from all over Colorado, the states and the world. As long as we all agree speak English on the run, we all get along just fine,” jokes Cragg.
When Cragg was asked what his favorite running moment at Adams State was thus far, he replied, “In 2008 at Slippery Rock when we lost Reuben due to his accident, I was given the chance to run for the team. I wanted to win for him as well as all the other men on that team. To be eighth man on the team a week before, I finished fourth within the team and 21 overall. I was able to pull through for my team. We lose our top three guys from last year, but I know that the team we have this year is just as competitive. My goal is to win the team title again this year. I also want to receive an individual medal at Nationals this year, but the team is most important.”
What’s Been Said…