GLENWOOD SPRINGS – Racing on trails at the Colorado Mountain College Spring Valley campus Oct. 18–19, the Montezuma Composite mountain bike team competed with top high school riders in the state.
Racing in the Colorado High School Cycling League state championships, the group of riders from across Montezuma County showcased their skills against peers from across Colorado.
Under the guidance of Executive Director Ed Whritner and Program Director Chase Wesley, High Desert DEVO offers youth riders opportunities to grow in the sport. The Montezuma Composite MTB team has thrived under their direction.
On a course with more than 1,300 feet of climbing, according to Wesley, the Montezuma Composite riders held their own against the 900-plus athletes competing.
Montezuma Composite’s top finish came from freshman Orrin Kelley, whose 28th-place result in the ‘A’ wave of the freshman boys race put him within six minutes of the top spot. Kelley raced the opening lap in 27:41 and nearly duplicated that performance on the second circuit, closing out his first high school state appearance with a time of 55:40.
Starting in the ‘B’ wave of the boys varsity competition, Montezuma-Cortez senior Jaris McDonald closed out his high school cycling career with a 132nd-place finish. McDonald’s opening lap of 29:57 was his fastest of the three circuits. He crossed the finish line with a time of 1:40:52.
“Jaris was a three-time state qualifier and a legacy rider – which means he raced every year they were eligible from freshman to senior year,” lauded Wesley.
Sophomore Costner Hernandez raced in the ‘B’ wave of the boys sophomore division, posting an opening lap time of 32:34 and finishing with a cumulative time of 1:07:59 to place 142nd.
Freshman Macie McDonald took 66th in the girls freshman race, completing the 5.6-mile loop in 40:41 before finishing the 11.2-mile race in 1:23:15. Fellow freshman Jackson Mendoza competed in his first state appearance in the boys freshman race but did not finish.
“All of our riders rode very well,” said Wesley after the competition. “Each of them finished in better position than their call ups at the start of the race.”
The team will continue to enjoy a few more weeks of riding while the weather permits, then pause for winter before resuming in 2026. Learn more or get involved at www.highdesertdevo.org. Organizers hope this year’s state success marks another step forward for mountain biking in the Four Corners.
