Lauren Martin
The Paw Print
The cool air of Fall greeted the Adams State College women’s cross country team at the Colorado University Rocky Mountain Shootout in Boulder, Colorado on Saturday, October 2. The women’s team competed in a field of 18 teams from across the country in one of the biggest meets of the season. The Grizzlies finished second overall in the unofficial combined results behind Colorado University. The lady harriers won the crown for the non-Division I teams, scoring 31 points, seven points ahead of rival school, Western State College.
Leading the team effort was Kristen McGlynn, a senior from Bailey, Colorado. McGlynn is off to a strong start this season following her course record-breaking experience at the Joe I. Vigil held at Cattails Golf Course in Alamosa. McGlynn went out with the Division I leaders, holding her own with the Lady Buffalos. McGlynn finished fifth overall with a strong kick in the last mile of the race to finish in a time of 20:56
Next for the Grizzlies was Alicia Nelson, sophomore from Craig, Colorado. Nelson an All-American cross country athlete finished in seventh place with a time of 21:27. Following closely was fifth year All-American senior runner Ashley Quintana, a Pecos, New Mexico native. Quintana finished in 14th place with a solid time of 21:59.
Rounding out the top five scorers was Cassie Mitchell and Kelly Lamb. Mitchell, heralding from Orange County, California, placed 17th with a time of 22:10. San Luis Valley native Kelly Lamb, from Creede has shown remarkable improvement finishing 26th with a time of 22:28.
Next for the Grizzlies was senior Addison LeMaster. LeMaster finished the tough course in a time of 22:52 earning her 37th. Sophomore Sarah Lange followed teammate LeMaster very closely, only 4 second behind, completing the course in a time of 22:56. Lange finished 39th in the overall results. Junior Lindsey Grasmick, also competing for Adams State’s cross country team for the first time in her career, finished the course in a time of 27:24 finishing in 151.
Also running from Adams State were redshirt freshmen Tayler Warren, Lauren Martin and Emalie Barnett. They finished in 47th, 104th and 154th place, respectfully.
Freshman Kelly Lamb was asked about how the course was Saturday and how she thought the team competed, she replied, “The Rocky Mountain Shootout was a lot harder than Joe I. Vigil, but also more interesting. It was nice to have a few hills. It made the course more challenging for all of the runners. I feel like that we did good overall.”
“I know that we didn’t compete to our full potential. I wish we could have been a little closer to CU,” she continued. “Next meet, we will be more prepared.” Lamb also talked about her race individually, “I felt really strong during the race, but the hills and the fact that the race was 5717 meters made it more difficult.”
Adams State will travel to Fayetteville, Arkansas on October 16 to race in the Chile Pepper Festival. They then will head down to Las Vegas, New Mexico to compete at New Mexico Highlands University. The Grizzlies then compete at the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Meet on November 6 back at New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, New Mexico.
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