Bulldogs turn in strong times on tough Lander course

The Lovell High School cross country teams continued to make significant progress last Thursday, producing several personal records on a challenging course at the Lander Invitational.

Lovell coach Caleb Sanders said cooler weather may have helped the runners, but he was still surprised by how much improvement the Bulldogs showed on one of the more difficult courses they will face this season.

“We had an amazing meet,” Sanders said. “The weather helped us because it was a little bit cooler, but that course is challenging and very difficult. To get the times we did across the board, I was just super pleased.”

Aaiden Walker led the Lovell boys, placing 22nd. The official results listed Walker’s time at 18 minutes, 46 seconds, although Sanders said two members of the Lovell group timed him at 18:33.

Either time represented a personal record of more than a minute for Walker.

Isaac Sanders followed closely behind, placing 25th in 18:55 and breaking the 19-minute barrier for the first time in his career.

“Aaiden and Isaac ran together and pushed each other,” Coach Sanders said. “I think it was very helpful to have them running side by side for most of the race.”

Oscar Garcia was Lovell’s third finisher, placing 44th in 20:23. Grant Rose finished 56th in 21:19, and Hudsen Mickelson placed 60th in 21:40.

Dagan Reuter established a new personal record with a time of 22:09, good for 66th place. Jackson Sanders finished 83rd in 23:20, followed by Conner Grant in 84th at 23:44.

Anthony Garcia placed 97th in 26:29, while Daniel Durfee recorded another personal record, finishing 101st in 28:14. Gage Pillow rounded out the Lovell boys’ results in 106th place with a time of 31:53.

“Dagan Reuter set a PR, and Daniel Durfee also set a PR,” Sanders said. “Our whole boys team ran great.”

Macee Winterholler was the Bulldogs’ fastest girls runner, placing 29th in a personal-record time of 24:31. Sanders said Winterholler cut more than a minute from her previous best.

Caylee Herman returned to competition after missing recent meets because she had not been feeling well. She placed 44th in 26:14.

“It was good to have Caylee Herman back,” Sanders said. “This was her first race in a couple of meets, and I thought she ran well.”

Bonnie Buchholz finished one place behind Herman, taking 45th in 26:24. Buchholz did not quite set a personal record, but Sanders said she moved much closer to her best time.

Candace Walker finished 49th in 26:59.

Rylee Mayes broke the 30-minute mark for the first time, establishing a new personal record of 29:29 and placing 57th.

Kaylynn Mickelson also made a major improvement, cutting more than two minutes from her previous best. She finished 60th in 30:32 and moved within striking distance of joining Mayes under the 30-minute barrier.

“All of this surprised me on such a challenging course,” Sanders said. “I think the kids were very happy about the meet. We challenged them during practice this past week to cut their times, and they did it.”

The Bulldogs now feel ready for Friday’s meet in Worland. The flatter course should provide another opportunity for Lovell’s runners to challenge their personal records.

The high school girls varsity and junior varsity races will be run together beginning at 3 p.m. The boys varsity and junior varsity races will follow at 3:30 p.m.

“I am excited about the future meets we have,” Sanders said.