BAKER CROSS-COUNTRY: Bulldog girls 1st, boys 3rd at season-opening meet

Published 12:00 pm Monday, August 28, 2023

Baker’s cross-country teams had a strong start to the season with the girls placing first and the boys third at the Dash-N-Splash meet Thursday, Aug. 24 at Vale.

“We just had a great time,” Baker coach Suzy Cole said. “The fun thing about cross-country is the extra stuff, after they run in the hot weather they get to go swimming for an hour, a nice cool swim in the pool with other runners.

“I was very happy with the kids, we started out very strong, most of the kids were veterans and had personal records from last year’s (Dash-N-Splash), and a lot of our first timers ran really tough,” Cole said.

A pair of juniors led the Bulldogs, as Daniel Brown was second overall in the boys race, and Sofie Kaaen second in the girls meet.

Both boys and girls competed in a 2-mile course, shorter than the usual 3.1-mile course.

“Cross country is intimidating,” Cole said. “That first race can get to you, and it didn’t. I was just really happy for them. It’s easy to get in that first race and think ‘I’ll just get a time and see where I am’, but they did a good job of going out to compete.”

Baker will compete in the Catherine Creek Scamper Sept. 8 at Catherine Creek State Park near Union.

Girls

Kaaen was less than a second behind winner Addie Saunders of Vale. Sanders crossed the line in 13.41.7, while Kaaen finished in 13.42.5.

“We just need to work on the confidence of Sofie’s kick,” Cole said, referring to runners who pick up their pace for the final stanza of a race. “Even when you’re hurt and out of energy, it’s knowing you still have another gear. We’re working on that part.”

Gwen Rasmussen placed fifth in 14:47.6, while teammate Katie Spaugh was in sixth at 15:07.3.

“They did a great job of running packed up, and running aggressive,” Cole said. “Those were both strong varsity runners from last year. Gwen just gets more confidence in her ability, and then we have Katie who trained really hard on her own, and she’s going to come out very strong this year.”

Girls team scores

1. Baker 34; 2. Burns 42; 3. Vale 48

Individual results (Baker and Pine Eagle)

Sofie Kaaen, 2nd, 13:42.5; Gwen Rasmussen, 5th, 14.47.6; Katie Spaugh, 6th, 15:07.3; Tyler Gressley, 11th, 15:27.5; Liz Timm, 17th, 16:32.3; Anna Johnson, 20th, 17:36.2; Paige Marlia, 21st, 17:38.5; Sara Ruiz, 23rd, 17.46.9; Evie Davis (PE), 25th, 17:54.2; Avery Collier, 29th, 18:37.4; Emma Annis (PE), 31st, 19.18.8; Liz Timm, 34th, 20:07.2; Reagan Ritter, 35th, 20:46.3.

Boys

Brown placed second behind Vale’s Trevor Stuart.

“(Daniel) just let Trevor get out a little too much too early,” Cole said. “But (Brown) ran even splits which is what we like to see. The two miles were run at the same pace, you want to see them close the same, consistent, or faster on the second, that’s a perfect tempo for him.”

Baker senior Nate Jensen placed eighth.

Pine Eagle runners Gideon Tubbs and Gabe Brown were 12th and 13th, respectively. Other Baker runners included Cade Hearne, 21st, Tanner Lucas, 28th, and Jack Joseph, 28th.

Boys team scores

1. Burns 60; 2. Nyssa 70; 3. Baker 72; 4. Vale 77; 5. Four Rivers 95; 6. Homedale 120.

Individual results (Baker and Pine Eagle)

Daniel Brown, 2nd, 10:54.8; Nate Jensen, 8th, 11.36.9; Gideon Tubbs (PE), 12th, 12:24.0; Gabe Brown (PE), 13th, 12:25.4; Cade Hearne, 21st, 13:02.6; Tanner Lucas, 23rd, 13:13.8; Jack Joseph, 28th, 13:35.9; Waylon Gibbons, 32nd, 13:49.1; Clark Norton, 40th, 14:03.5; Kegan Bott, 41st, 14:03.8; Dallin Guertz (PE), 50th, 17:43.6; Jarren Cikanek, 52nd, 18:27.6.