A crew of Bears and Panthers gather themselves for the final race push. (Erika Alvero/Special to The Journal)
Dolores sophomore Joseph Padilla, Bears team win boys race
MANCOS – After missing last year’s home meet due to a land dispute, the Bluejays looked right at home Saturday.
The Chicken Creek trail system has long been a staple on the Southwest Colorado cross-country circuit, and the latest crop of Bluejays made sure to leave their mark on the 2025 edition of the Chicken Creek Challenge.
Freshman Carly Kroll led the Jays – and all Montezuma County girls runners – by placing 10th in the field. Her time of 24 minutes, 12 seconds paced a trio of Bluejays, as seniors Maddie Swortwood-Green and Tyla Henry competed in their final home meet. Swortwood-Green took 22nd in 28:08, and Henry crossed five spots later in 29:59 for head coach Brady Archer’s squad.
Dolores sophomore Emilynn Hill races in to the finish line. (Erika Alvero/Special to The Journal)
Dolores sophomore Emilynn Hill was second among local runners and 14th overall in 24:59, while Montezuma-Cortez senior Camryn Oliver finished 23rd in 28:49.
In the boys race, Dolores sophomore Joseph Padilla pulled away from a pack of four runners to earn his best performance as a high schooler. Padilla’s time of 18:12 won the event by six seconds, while his teammates helped secure the team title.
Juniors Corvin Smith (8th, 19:17) and Owen Lowe (12th, 20:05) claimed top-12 finishes, while junior Orin Samulski and freshman Bodhi Fischer crossed in a dead heat for 21st and 22nd, respectively, both in 20:38.
Mancos sophomore Cuinn Archer paced the hosts with a 20th-place finish in 20:33, joining junior Alekzander Bianchi (48th, 25:56), sophomore Colter Dennison (49th, 26:19) and freshman Max Morris (59th, 32:55) to help the Jays earn eighth place as a team.
Montezuma-Cortez junior Cruz Plewe was the first Panther to make it in with the time of 19:26.14. (Erika Alvero/Special to The Journal)
Montezuma-Cortez junior Cruz Plewe led the Panthers with a ninth-place finish, helping the orange-and-black to sixth place overall.
Dolores won the meet by nine points (59-68) over regional foe Ignacio, while Ridgway cruised to the girls team title. Telluride senior Austin Cook won the girls race by nearly a minute in 19:08.
As the regular season winds down, Mancos looks ahead to the Class 2A Region 4 meet in Ignacio on Oct. 24, where the Bluejays will join Dolores and a tough field of 2A talent vying for coveted state berths. Montezuma-Cortez will prepare for the Class 3A Region 2 meet in the coming weeks with similar ambitions.
Mancos freshman Carly Kroll makes her way down the final stretch of the muddy Chicken Creek course for a 10th place finish. (Erika Alvero/Special to The Journal)
High school girls take off during a delayed start at Saturdays cross country meet at Chicken Creek. (Erika Alvero/Special to The Journal)
Montezuma-Cortez senior Camryn Oliver treks down the muddy road. The course was adjusted to a road race to account for the muddy conditions. (Erika Alvero/Special to The Journal)
Mancos freshman Carly Kroll makes her way down the final stretch of the muddy Chicken Creek course for a 10th place finish. (Erika Alvero/Special to The Journal)
Mancos freshman Carly Kroll makes her way down the final stretch of the muddy Chicken Creek course for a 10th place finish. (Erika Alvero/Special to The Journal)
Dolores sophomore Emilynn Hill races in to the finish line. (Erika Alvero/Special to The Journal)
Mancos senior Tyla Henry makes it down the final leg of the course. (Erika Alvero/Special to The Journal)
A crew of Bears and Panthers gather themselves for the final race push. (Erika Alvero/Special to The Journal)
Montezuma-Cortez seniors Daniel Thornton and Roberto Sauzameda stride along the Chicken Creek course. (Erika Alvero/Special to The Journal)
Panthers freshman Shaylie Keiter concentrates as she finishes her race. (Erika Alvero/Special to The Journal)
Panthers senior William Blair crests a steep hill in the cross country course, followed closely by Dolores junior Orin Samulski and freshman Bodhi Fischer. (Erika Alvero/Special to The Journal)
High school boys jockey for a lead position at the start of their 5K race. (Erika Alvero/Special to The Journal)
Montezuma-Cortez junior Cruz Plewe was the first Panther to make it in with the time of 19:26.14. (Erika Alvero/Special to The Journal)
Dolores sophomore Joseph Padilla won this years Chicken Creek Challenge with a time of 18:12.42. (Erika Alvero/Special to The Journal)
Dolores junior Owen Lowe leads a pack of Montezuma County runners up a hill on the road course. (Erika Alvero/Special to The Journal)
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