Despite cancellation in Lander, Lovell harriers power up for State

The Lovell Bulldogs traveled to Lander for the regional meet Thursday, only to turn around after it was canceled due to flooding on the course.

Coach Caleb Sanders and Coach Bret George then took the runners to Byron to run a trial race and determine who would qualify for State. Sanders said he was extremely proud of the athletes for how well they performed, especially after being on the bus for more than six hours. He said he was impressed by their ability to stay focused and run such a strong race despite the challenges of the day.

Rick Jensen, Jacob Thomas, Atlee Sanders, Elana Schilthuis, David Durfee and Ethan Hendershot all surprised the coaches with their performances during the time trial. Although the trial didn’t officially count as a race, Coach Sanders said it left the runners feeling proud of their effort and gave them a strong finish to the regular season.

The course in Byron was much different from the state course, with fewer hills and turns, so the runners will be training hard this week to prepare.

The coaches determined who would move on to State by reviewing each runner’s last four meets, including the trial, and evaluating who had been performing consistently and finishing with strong momentum. Based on that, Durfee, Thomas, Oscar Garcia, Isaac Sanders, Sam Mayes and Hendershot will move on to compete at State, with Hudsen Mickelson serving as the alternate.

“This year was probably one of the hardest years yet, because all the runners were so close in performance,” Coach Sanders said. “It was tough deciding who would continue the season.”

All of the girls will be moving on to State, as well — Schilthuis, Caylee Herman, Candace Walker, Toree Herman and Atlee Sanders.

When asked what advice he had for runners finishing their season, Coach Sanders shared,
“For our seniors, I hope running becomes a lifelong habit. Unlike other sports, you don’t need a team or equipment; you can do it anywhere. I hope they keep it up as a healthy lifelong practice. For our younger runners, keep putting in the work during the off-season. The more miles you run, the better you’ll get. I always reward the runner who logs the most miles over the summer with an automatic trip to State, so that’s motivation for anyone who wants to put in extra effort and earn their spot.”

The team’s goal this week is to beat their average times from last year’s state course. The boys are aiming for an average time under 20 minutes, and the girls are hoping to beat their previous team average of 26:27.

“That’s something that’ll motivate us,” Sanders said. “Shooting for the top three is an outside shot, so we wanted a goal that pushes the runners to improve. We haven’t always been the best at setting team goals, so I’m hoping this one helps us perform better than before.”

Coach Sanders is also hoping that Schilthuis and Durfee can compete for All-Conference honors. All-State honors will be determined by times at the state meet. The top 10 finishers from the 3A West will earn All-Conference recognition, and the top 10 overall in 3A will make All-State.

The Bulldogs will compete at the state meet in Cheyenne at the Little America Hotel course. They will leave Friday and race on Saturday, with the 3A boys running at 11 a.m. and the 3A girls at 12:30 p.m.