Ortega girls go back-to-back

Ortega Middle School’s Girls Cross-Country team poses with their Red Division State Championship Trophy after taking three of the top ten spots in Saturday’s race. (Courtesy)

DENVER — With an impressive 35 points, the OMS lady’s cross-country team won the Red Division State Championship for the second year in a row at Fehringer Ranch Park on Oct. 19th. Leading the way for the team were Elizabeth McQuitty and Araceli Molina. Both girls tied with a 14:01.9 race time. Using a photo taken at the finish, McQuitty edged out Molina taking the individual state championship title.

Coming in strong for her last middle school cross country race was Sarah DeLaCerda placing 7th. In 18th place was Vanessa Villalva and in 20th was Victoria Gifford. Impressive for both 6th graders. Only two places behind her teammate in 22nd place was Ema Bradley and rounding out the top 7 racers was Jayden Wubben finishing 33rd.

Overall the boys finished in 16th place out of 36 teams in the Red Division.On the boy’s side, Mario Villalba, earning a ribbon, placing 19th. 6th grader, Jeremiah DeLaCerda, came in strong for the team in 80th place. For his last middle school race, Dylan Crowder finished in 97th. Running in his first cross country state meet was Mason Gonzales placing 111th. Coming in 146th place was Johnathan Ramirez who battled cramps throughout the whole race. Rounding out the top 7 runners were Tyler Dokson (189th) and Carsten Kirkland (210th).  Both coach Jen McQuitty and Ronda DeLaCerda were impressed with the dedication and determination both teams displayed this season. “I’ve never seen such hard work come from a group of kids like these guys,” commented coach McQuitty, “In the end, their hard work paid off.”

Also racing in the Red Division were Centauri and  Sargent. Centauri’s boys qualified for finals as a team and finished 12th overall with a team score of 359. The Falcons were lead by Richardson Tailleur who took 21st place with a time of 13:28.70. Behind Tailleur were teammates Logan Bagwell and Tyrel Hostetter finishing each with 14 minute times. The remainder of the Falcons Troy Sowards, Niklas Skadberg and Issac Montoya finished with 15 minute times and beyond. Centauri’s lone girl finished 60th with a time of 15:59.70.

Sargent qualified 5 runners as individuals on Friday. Westen Burkhart placed first for the Sargent boys and 34th overall in the Red Division with a time of 13:50.80. Sargent’s Emma Sewell was the lone qualifying girl from SMS and took 62nd place with a time of 16:02.20.