Colorado Mountain College Eagles cross-country running team completed their season with a showing at the National Junior College Athletic Association – Division One, Men’s and Women’s Cross Country 2020 Championships. The team traveled to Iowa to compete against over 250 college runners on the November 14 meet.
Colorado Mountain College cross-country runner Jason Macaluso of Vail clocked the fastest 8K time among his teammates at the National Junior College Athletic Association’s nationals in Fort Dodge, Iowa, Nov. 14. Image courtesy of CMC.
CMC’s men’s team entered the competition hosted by Iowa Central Community College at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course in Fort Dodge, ranked 19 in their NJCAA division. The women’s team ranked 20. Followed by nationals, the men’s ranking increased to 13 overall and the women finished 15 overall. Now in its second year, CMC’s cross-country running team joins the college’s previous and current student-athletes who have participated in sports.
In the men’s 8K, second year runner Jason Macaluso from Vail led CMC’s team with a time of 27:59.39. This was his season’s best time and placed him 56th overall in the field of 150 runner. Luke Plummer was CMC’s second overall finisher placing 78th with a time of 28:32.99. Finishing third for men was runner Jack Setser with a time of 28:37.99 which was a one-minute personal record putting him at 81st overall.
CMC runner Anayeli Almanza of Olathe joined her four other teammates on the Eagles women’s cross-country team to compete at the National Junior College Athletic Association’s nationals in Fort Dodge, Iowa, Nov. 14. This is the first year that women have competed on the CMC team. Image Courtesy of CMC.
First-year runner Reese Fledderjohn finished with a one-minute personal record of 28:50.80 in 85th place. CMC’s Adam Garcia had the time of 28:59.98. Garcia, a first-year runner, had nearly a 90-second personal record putting him in the 91st spot. First-year runner Autry Lomahongva finished with a time of 29:44.64 in 108th place. First-year runner Skyler Winter finished, with a personal record of 30:46.84, in 123rd place.
“What happened at Fort Dodge, Iowa, was heroic, inspirational and downright fun,” said the Eagles’ head coach and an associate mathematics professor at CMC Leadville, Darren Brungardt.
Among the 104 runners in the women’s 5K. CMC’s five first-year runners were led by Kya Jackson who ran a 22:36.49 placing her 77th overall. Madison Johnson ran a 20 second personal record of 23:24.84 to finish 84th overall. Cami Trujillo ran a 40 second personal record with a time of 24:11.68 placing her at 89th. Anayeli Almanza finished with a time of 27:44.95 taking 99th place while Ember Penas brought the women’s team home with a time of 28:30.44 placing her at 100th.
“This was only Ember’s second race of the season,” said Brungardt, “but her gutsy performance allowed the women to finish in the team scoring for only the second time in the program’s history.”
“This race will be the foundation for the team moving forward,” said Brungardt. “The college’s cross-country team and our Alpine ski team based in Steamboat Springs are our versions of football and basketball at other colleges and universities across the country.”
“We are so grateful for the support we had from the CMC community,” said CMC athletic director, Angela Dunn, “Nationals was a fantastic experience that I know our student-athletes will remember for the rest of their lives.”
Featured Image: At the National Junior College Athletic Association’s nationals in Fort Dodge, Iowa, members of the CMC women’s cross-country team wait their turn to run the 5K. From left are Madisen Johnson, Cami Trujillo, Anayeli Almanza, Kya Jackson and Ember Penas. Image courtesy of CMC.
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