Record-setting senior leads Shadow Ridge boys to Laughlin Invitational title

A little bit of heat and humidity didn’t seem to bother Kyle Wilson on Saturday.

The Shadow Ridge senior set a course record at Mountain View Park, finishing the 3.1-mile Laughlin Invitational cross country meet in 16 minutes, 20 seconds and led the Mustangs to the team title.

Wilson finished three seconds ahead of Arbor View’s Greg Marschik, whose course record Wilson broke Saturday. Marschik set the mark of 16:45 in last year’s race.

Wilson’s heroics led Shadow Ridge to an easy win in the large-school boys division. The Mustangs had 47 points. Durango was second with 84, followed by Arbor View with 94. Del Sol (111) and Tech (125) finished fourth and fifth.

“This was one of the absolute best performances our team has had (this year),” said Shadow Ridge coach Pat Fitzgerald, whose team won the invitational from 2005 to 2007 and finished second in each of the past two years. “We showed up and ran well.

“The boys really wanted the team trophy back.”

The boys race became three-man contest early. Wilson, Marschik and Del Sol senior Colin Smith ran in a pack until the final one-tenth of a mile when Wilson broke away.

Smith settled for third in 16:35, also bettering the previous course record.

“Our top three boys ran great,” Del Sol coach John Dixon said. “A PR (personal record) for Nick Priego. I’m happy with Colin’s (Smith) and Casey’s (Walter) performance considering their hard training schedule.

“Just wish we had a stronger four through seven. We would definitely be in the region hunt.”

Laughlin won the small-school boys division, edging Boulder City 30-35, with Kingman (Ariz.) Academy third with 57 points.

Cody McGeshick of Laughlin was the first finisher among small-school boys in a time of 19:29.

In the girls competition, Arbor View won the large-school division with 37 points. Palo Verde took second with 50 points, followed by Shadow Ridge with 89 and Tech with 92.

This race also was a preview of things to come since Arbor View, Palo Verde and Shadow Ridge all are strong contenders to be the three representatives from the Sunset Region at the state meet.

“The kids ran strong today,” Arbor View coach Tyrel Cooper said. “We were strung out a little more than I would like, but we finished strong.”

The girls race was settled early when Palo Verde freshman Katie Gorczyca broke away from the pack after two miles to win in a near-record time of 19:27. Wendy Harris of Lund set the course record of 19:13 in 2005 at the Class 2A Southern Regional.

Arbor View junior Andrea Gonzalez finished second in 20:13, followed by two seniors: Mallory Reese of Shadow Ridge (20:41) and Kelsi Koch of Palo Verde (21:10).

In the small-school girls division, Boulder City reversed the results from the boys race, edging Laughlin, 32-35. Kingman Academy (57) again finished third.

Stephanie Adams of Boulder City was the first finisher among small-school girls in a time of 21:37.

 

Large-School Boys team scores: Shadow Ridge 47, Durango 84, Arbor View 94, Del Sol 111, Tech 125, Bishop Gorman 143, Australian Select 150, Lake Havasu (Ariz.) 179, Eldorado 231, Pahrump Valley 278

Top 10 individuals: 1, Kyle Wilson, SR, 16:20; 2, Greg Marschik, AV, 16:23; 3, Colin Smith, DS, 16:35; 4, Shawn Smith, BG, 17:25; 5, Austin Tiner, SR, 17:36; 6, Casey Walter, DS, 17:38; 7, Matt Shelton, Dur, 17:38; 8, Nick Priego, DS, 17:43; 9, Sebastian Hernandez, Tec, 17:47; 10, Zach Zimdars, Tec, 17:55.

Girls team scores: Arbor View 43, Palo Verde 56, Shadow Ridge 98, Tech 103, Lake Havasu (Ariz.) 151, Boulder City 174, Bishop Gorman 177, Durango 216, Laughlin 222, Del Sol 261, Kingman Academy (Ariz.) 289, Pahrump Valley 352

Top 10 individuals: 1, Katie Gorczyca, Pal, 19:27; 2, Andrea Gonzalez, AV, 20:13; 3, Mallory Reese, SR, 20:41; 4, Kelsi Koch, Pal, 21:10; 5, Amberly Halstead, AV, 21:20; 6, Lynsey Ryan, LH, 21:26; 7, Taylor Coss, Tec, 21:26; 8, Maddie Dillon, Aus, 21:32; 9, Stephanie Adams, BC, 21:37; 10, Jessica Tobler, BC, 21:42.

Small-School Boys team scores: Laughlin 30, Boulder City 35, Kingman Academy (Ariz.) 57
Top 5 individuals: 1, Cody McGeshick, Lau, 19:29; 2, Nick Maldonado, Lau, 19:36; 3, Harrison Brown, BC, 19:37; 4, Austin Tomlinson, King, 19:42; 5, London Stein, Lau, 19:54.