Cats return from Rich River Rattler meet

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Karol Escalona reaches for a cup from Anthony Heathman to hydrate after a cross-country run. It was a recent practice session in Morenci. The Wildcats opened the season in Rio Rico on Aug. 29 and have four more meets before hosting their own on Oct. 8.

Nelson sets the pace for Morenci runners

By Raymundo Frasquillo

MORENCI – They have logged miles and miles on the hills and streets of Morenci and Clifton, as well as along the San Francisco River on the road to nowhere above the Polly Rosenbaum Bridge. At last, a respite with the initial meet of the season. The Dr. David Woodall-coached Morenci cross-country teams returned from the Aug. 30 Rio Rico Rich River Rattler meet.

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: The Morenci cross-country team runs the levee in Clifton as part of training sessions. From left are Ryder Nelson, Aaron Esquivel, Lyndale Waterhouse, Joaquin Ma, and Braxton Merrill. Nelson was 25th, Merril 42nd, Waterhouse 51st, and Esquivel 63rd in the 5-8 category at the Rio Rico meet while Ma did not compete.

Senior Trent Nelson set the pace for the Wildcats with a clocking of 18:56.6 for 31st of 79 first four runners, with the winning time being 16:41.3. Senior Anthony Heathman was 41st (19:26.6).

Freshman Ryder Nelson was 25th (20:16.3) of 66 for the fifth through eighth group. Freshman Braxton Merrill finished 42nd (20:58.0), junior Lyndale Waterhouse 51st (21:47.8), and junior Aaron Esquivel 63rd (24:11.2). The winning time was 17:55.4.

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Trent Nelson, right, and Anthony Heathman keep pace with one another at the start of a run outside Wildcat Memorial Gymnasium. The seniors finished 65th (18:56.6) and 67th (19:26.6), respectively, in Rio Rico on Aug. 30.

Senior Tristen Burke was 72nd (24:33.8) in the Open Division. Senior Bryant Figueroa, junior Logan Billy, sophomore Jesse Strickland, and freshman Joaquin Ma did not compete.

Personal best times have been 17:20.5 for Trent Nelson as a sophomore in 2022, 17:29.0 for Heathman, 22:04.4 for Waterhouse, 22:06.5 for Esquivel, 25:40.6 for Burke, 22:40.2 for Figueroa, and 25:59.0 for Billy, all last season.

A total of 24 other teams also attended the meet, including Benson, Chandler Heights Casteel, Marana, Marana Mountain View, Nogales, Oro Valley Ironwood Ridge, Phoenix Pinacle, host Rio Rico, Sahuarita, Saint David, Sierra Vista Buena, Tombstone, along with Tucson schools Andrada Polytechnic, Arizona School for the Deaf and the Blind, Canyon del Oro, Catalina Foothills, Empire, Flowing Wells, Sabino, Sahuaro, Saint Augustine Catholic, Sunnyside, Tanque Verde, and The Gregory School.

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Hazel Salinas checks the pavement to ensure her footing while running the streets of Morenci. Second-year team coach Dr. David Woodall keeps pace with the team members during a practice session as Lyndale Waterhouse follows. Salinas ended 42nd in the first four girls category while Waterhouse was 51st in the 5-8 boys category.

Morenci Girls

Freshman Katerine Escalona turned in a 25:16.3 time for 40th of 56 first four runners, with the winning time being 19:09.0. Sophomore Hazel Salinas was 42nd (25:18.2).

In the Open Division, freshmen Peytin Corbel was 22nd (27:42.9) and Catalina Garcia 38th (29:22.6) of 70. Junior Karol Escalona did not compete.

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Katerine Escalona, left, and Paytin Corbell pace on one another as they negotiate the San Francisco River into North Clifton. Escalona finished 40th (25:16.3) in the first four categories while Corbell was 22nd (27:42.9) in the Open Division at Rio Rico on Aug. 30.

Personal best times for Salinas and Karol Escalona were 23:23.2 and 23:24.2, respectively, last season.

The Wildcats are scheduled to attend the Tombstone-held Justine Prevatte Classic on Wednesday, Sept. 4, the Willcox Invitational on Sept. 11, the New Mexico Bayard Cobre Invitational on Sept. 14, and the Benson Invitational on Sept. 19 before hosting the Copper Hills Classic on Oct. 8.