Raymundo Frasquillo File Photo/Gila Herald: Thatcher’s pack was first at the start of the inaugural meet in 2016. The Eagles have placed first in all three Copper Hills Invitational Cross Country meets.
By Raymundo Frasquillo
MORENCI – Six teams are scheduled to join Morenci for the 4th Copper Hills Invitational on Wednesday, Oct. 2. The teams are Benson, Safford, Thatcher, Willcox, and New Mexico Bayard Cobre.
Thatcher won its third straight team title last season, scoring 30 points or 28 fewer than runner-up and host Morenci (58). The Eagles scored 21 points and Morenci did not have five runners in 2017. Thatcher had 31 and second place Morenci 67 in 2016.
Morenci junior Kayla O’Connell was first in 2018 with 24 minutes, breaking Thatcher’s Lily Richardson’s 2017 winning mark (24:34). Cobre Class of 2017 grad Skylar Jones holds the course record of 22:15.
Thatcher junior Ashlyn McMaster finished second (24:30) of 32 runners, Thatcher senior Hailey Udall third (25:02), Safford class of 2019 Sabrina Gutierrez fourth (25:19), Thatcher sophomore Madiline Hughes 10th (26:49) and Thatcher senior Elliana Windsor 11th (27:05). Thatcher senior Paisley Layton and class of 2019 Akala Hatch were 12th (27:06) and 14th (27:39), respectively.
Others placing in the top 13 were Tombstone juniors Carmen Gonzales fifth (25:38) and Jessika Howard eighth (26:36), and Safford junior Samantha Van Houten 13th (27:28).
Morenci at Desert Twilight Invitational
O’Connell continues to beat her times with each outing, clocking in with a personal best of 20:04.93 for 48th of 204 entrants in the Championship segment at Casa Grande Sept. 27.
The winning time (18:19.84) was turned in by Tucson Catalina Foothills junior Lauren Jorgensen.
Hannah Silvester was 15th (25.39.81) of 78 entrants in the freshmen segment. Keirah Chee was 30th (27:30.26) and Sara Gray 69th (33:21.25). Chee and Gray’s times were personal bests.
Tucson Salpointe Catholic freshman Abby Ingber placed first with 22:02.86.
In the varsity segment, Thatcher finished 20th with 608 points, behind meet winner Phoenix Greenway (158). The Eagles’ top five included freshman Camille Bryce at 77th (21:41.09), junior Rachel Richardson at 125th (22:33.14), Windsor at 135th (22:43.47), McMaster at 150th (22:56.45), and Udall at 196th (23:34.59). The other Eagles, Layton, freshman Felicity Lunt, and sophomore Madiline Hughes came in 287th (25:08.15), 296th (25:14.96), and 311th (25:39.13), respectively.
Tuba City junior Shaelyn Horahni was first in 19:30.21.
Morenci at Juan Reyes Invitational
O’Connell placed fourth (20:33.03) of 92 varsity runners in Laveen Sept. 21. She came in over a minute behind meet winner Mesa Dobson junior Rachel Early (19:31.6).
Silvester finished 3rd of 18 competing in the freshmen segment. Her 25:13.5 was a personal best.
Buckeye Verrado freshman Koarina Gallegos came in first (22:37.9).
