Facing their toughest competition in the young 2019 season, Montezuma-Cortez High School, Mancos High School, and Dolores High School cross-country teams performed well in the Lloyd’s Lake Classic in Monticello.

Leading the way among local finishers was Mancos junior Grace Manning, who finished sixth overall (24:03.30) in a field that featured 43 runners in the girls’ varsity division. Manning’s teammates, Hakayla Snow and Kylie Guiles, placed 25th (26:10.60) and 37th (28:58.80), respectively.

While the Mancos girls did not have enough runners to qualify for the team standings, M-CHS entered five varsity runners in the competition and finished fourth overall behind San Juan High School, Grand County High School and Grand Junction Central High School.

The Lady Panthers were paced by Emalie Myers, who placed 13th (24:03.30) and Marina Bradley, who finished 23rd (25:58.30). Other finishers for M-CHS included Trinity Meyers, at 26th (26:22.30), Kalea Hunt at 34th (27:41.20), and Cassandra McCully, at 35th place (27:52.50).

Junior Anaya Martinez, the lone representative for the Dolores girls, finished 20th (27:52.50).

Pacing the local males who competed in the boys varsity division was M-CHS sophomore John Whyte, who looked strong throughout his first prep race of the season and finished seventh (16:58.20).

M-CHS also enjoyed solid finishes from Jadon Elliott and Giovanni Carta, who crossed the line in 51st (21:42.30) and 52nd (21:46.80), respectively.

The Mancos boys were led by Edgar Hernandez, who followed up his top finish in Dolores last weekend with a 13th-place finish in Monticello (17:41.40). Connor Sehnert crossed the line 25th (18:56.20); John Lund, 29th (19:01.10); and Vanfasai Jaijong, 55th for Mancos (22:35.20).

Michael Brafford, the lone representative for Dolores, placed 42nd (20:28.60).

Grand Junction Central finished first in the team standings in the varsity boys meet, and Grand County finished second. M-CHS, Mancos, and Dolores did not enter five runners in the boys varsity race and thus, did not qualify for the team standings.