Mustangs run ends in mountains
Mullen can't qualify for the Colorado Championships in Region 1 cross country in Gypsum; Welling says team still thankful for season even in difficult times.
The end to the strangest cross-country season on record came for Mullen on Thursday at altitude and was fitting for the time.
In a season of fewer races, fewer entrants, fewer meets and fewer postseason spots, the Mustangs also came up short in qualifying for the Colorado Championships. In the Class 4A Region 1 meet in Gypsum, they finished fifth as a team in boys, ninth in girls and were not able to qualify anyone individually.
Of the sports being offered in the new Season A, Mullen had its most difficult time during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in distance running.
In a normal season, head coach Joe Welling said, the Mustangs probably would have had at least two individual qualifiers, but the limited postseason spots as well as being forced to advance against mountain teams again didn’t help.
Still, he said, “the kids this year trained exceptionally hard. They rolled with the adjustments and season changes with openness and positivity. They embraced challenges and were just a fun group to coach.
“From top to bottom today, all the kids put in everything they had and that’s all we can ask. As a coaching staff, we’re exceptionally proud of our seniors, who have been a tenacious group of runners … but, more importantly, fantastic human beings.
“This season was a success, despite not attending state. And we were all thankful for the opportunity to have a season together.”
At the Gypsum Creek Golf Course, Mustangs boys, headed by senior Michael Dudzic, were fifth among 13 teams. Dudzic was 11th in 17 minutes, 10.28 seconds. He was followed by Jack Tolbert (25th, 17:48.45), Aidan Schwarz (33rd, 18:01.54), Jacob Sushinsky (42nd, 18:11.96), Travis Hockin (43rd, 18:12.01) and Patrick Keeley (47th, 18:15.05).
Conifer, Battle Mountain and Central (G.J.) grabbed the automatic team spots.
For girls, the Mustangs’ Amy O’Connell was 15th in 20:27.43. Next were Kira Van der Steen (25th, 21:16.84), Julia Brown (27th, 21:27.60), Octavia Gomez (70th, 24:16.78), Kennedy McCamley (72nd, 24:38.32) and Alicia Muller (74th, 24:43.57).
Battle Mountain, Green Mountain and Glenwood Springs took the top three team spots.
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