Blue Devils run well at Pacific Tiger Invitational
By Meghan Bobrowsky,
Bluedevilhub.com Staff–
The Davis High cross-country team participated at the Pacific Tiger Invitational meet in Stockton on Sept. 27.
With head coach Bill Gregg gone–along with the top seven varsity runners from both genders, who were competing at the Stanford Invitational this weekend–the Devils still managed to place fifth in the men’s JV race, fifteenth in the men’s varsity race (with JV runners from DHS competing against other schools’ top varsity squads) and second in the men’s frosh/soph race. The women also ran well, placing third in varsity and runner-up in both the JV and frosh/soph races.
With Gregg away at Stanford, assistant coaches Tracy Bennett and Tim Groth took charge of the 124 runners that participated in the 2-mile and 5K courses.
“This course provides a different challenge than any other meet we attend as it’s the only meet we go to that is completely flat with no hills,” Groth said.
The first gun went off at nine in the morning with the women’s varsity race. Senior Claire Dicker and juniors Jasmine Casillas and Elise Chu all finished within the top 20.
“This race was by far my favorite because of the good competition and positive attitudes everyone had,” said sophomore Hallie Lassiter, who placed 22nd in the varsity race.
At 1:20 p.m., the final race of the day concluded with the men’s frosh/soph team taking second place; they lost by just three points to Bella Vista.
“Our team had the best race of our season. We’re really starting to work together,” sophomore Nicholas Leacox said of the performance.
At Pacific Tiger, there is also a spirit award given to the team with the most enthusiasm and energy. DHS didn’t win the award, but it wasn’t for lack of effort; underneath every team’s tent were athletes covered from head to toe in glitter, bandanas, tutus and everything else “spirited.”
“The amount of school pride and spirit was higher here than I’ve ever seen,” junior Josh Gieschen said. DHS runners took the initiative to paint their faces and bodies, hold up encouraging signs and cheer their teammates on.
The team will race again in Granite Regional Park on Oct. 8. This will be its only league meet for the season before the League Championships at Willow Hills Reservoir on Nov. 1.
