Contingency plan doesn't make Mustangs blink

Thanks to worries about the impending first snowstorm of the season, Mullen will get to show off its ability to host a cross-country meet at whatever site is required.

The Mustangs were to host the season-ending Centennial League meet on Thursday at the Aurora Sports Park. But with the snow and cold headed our way, officials indicated it would not let the Mustangs host at the sports park off East Colfax Avenue.

So Mullen, in a contingency plan, will serve as host at a course around Cherokee Trail High School, southeast of the Aurora Reservoir, on Friday at 1 p.m..

Mustangs head coach Joe Welling admits he has no idea about Friday’s course and will treat it accordingly. Plus, below-freezing temperatures should make it even more interesting.

“It’s going to be cold, so we’re not expecting any sort of record-breaking times,” he said.

“But it would be nice to see at least one of our guys (such as Michael Dudzic and Will Locascio) get into the top seven and get all-league honors. And we’d like at least two within the top 14. And we’d love to see Amy (O’Connell, a top freshman) crack the top 14.”

Again, Welling said, “we’re not too focused on the times. This meet will serve as a tune-up (for regionals).”

Basically, he added, “it’s a chance for our kids to qualify for our regional team by being in the top nine for us.”

Also, the program hosted the inaugural Mullen Fun Run and Walk on Saturday.

Welling considered it a success as some 140 participants turned out to compete.

“We’re happy with the turnout and a lot of people who competed said we should do it again,” the coach said. “They had no idea we had these beautiful trails behind our school in Bear Creek Park.”

Mustangs runners who advance will compete at Lincoln Park in Grand Junction on Oct. 17.