Shorthanded Rocky harriers run at Lander

Though missing a couple of runners, the Rocky Mountain Grizzlies continued their cross country season at the Lander Invitational Friday, seeing some solid results.

Coach Tim Jones ran all of his relatively inexperienced team in the junior varsity division, and five runners competed on the difficult course. Jones said the races were run on a new course, moving from the golf course, which had a long hill, to an edge-of-town location.

“People used to complain about the old course with such a long hill, but this course was basically run in a field, and it had a very uneven surface,” he said. “It also had a big hill in it. It was at least as tough as the golf course, maybe tougher.

“But it’s good to run some tough courses, especially early in the year.”

In the girls JV race, the top finisher for the Lady Grizzlies was junior Evynn Alvarez, who finished 13th in a time of 28:24. Twin sister Ellie finished 27th in 33:02. Senior Rebecca Herren missed the race while nursing an injury.

“Evynn ran a really good race,” Jones said. “She ran the same time she ran at Big Horn, and I think this course is a minute and a half slower. That’s my estimate.”

For the boys, with sophomore Sam Loyning nursing a hip injury, freshman Zach Unruh was the top runner for the Grizz, running the course in 23:04, good for 40th place in the JV division.

“He’s doing well,” Jones said. “He’s learning strategy, how to pace yourself and not burn out too early or get too far behind. Everybody has to find that out.”

Freshman Cody Miller finished 67th in 25:22, junior Dyami Rock 73rd in 26:29.

“We have five weeks left in the season. I’m hoping the kids will continue to improve.

Next up, the Grizzlies will run at the Worland Invitational Friday. The meet begins with the middle school girls race at 2 p.m., followed by the middle school boys at 2:30, the  high school girls at 3 and the high school boys at 3:30. The race will be run at the Green Hills Golf Course.

“It’s pretty flat,” Jones said. “I expect times to improve this week.”

Jones said he hopes to have both Herren and Loyning back on the course this week.