CORTEZ – The Dolores girls cross-country team’s inaugural state appearance last year still rings loudly around their home trails at Boggy Draw. Although the Dolores boys narrowly missed out on a state championship berth, both teams eye another year of growth this fall.
Mancos and Montezuma-Cortez are also looking forward to exciting 2024 seasons.
Here’s a look at what to expect from the Bears, Bluejays and Panthers.
Topping the best year in program history will be one of the Bears’ big goals under head coach Angie Lowe.
The Dolores girls placed 14th at the 2A state championships in Colorado Springs last October. This year, sisters Elia and Maya Lowe, Keira LaRose and Coralea Wright look to etch themselves into the Dolores history books to cap off their high school careers.
A handful of freshmen join the fray as Lowe’s girls program looks toward the future.
“We've definitely been putting in summer miles up at Boggy Draw to get a jump-start on the season,” Lowe said, adding that over a dozen of her athletes attended a weeklong cross-country camp at Adams State University. “It was an opportunity to learn from collegiate runners and coaches as well as a great team bonding experience.”
The Dolores girls placed fifth at regionals and 14th at state in 2023.
On the boys side, the Bears have plenty to be excited about, as their near-miss at state included a roster chock full of freshmen and sophomores.
The roster will boast one of the largest teams in program history, led by their state qualifier in junior Aaron Nielson, who placed 91st overall as an individual competitor.
Classmate Bridger Beyhan, along with underclassmen Owen Lowe, Corvin Smith and Orin Samulski also add varsity experience for Dolores, which placed sixth at regionals.
“They're a super fun group to coach, and really encourage and motivate one another,” Lowe said, adding that last year’s success helped build the program.
Few athletes in the region have enjoyed a more decorated high school career than Mancos senior Teagen Archer.
The multi-time state qualifier in both cross-country and track and field enters her final year, hoping to lead a youthful Bluejay squad to an improved fall season.
Juniors Tyla Henry and Maddie Swortwood-Green join the veteran presence for head coach Brady Archer, who begins his 23rd year in charge. The Mancos girls placed ninth at regionals last season.
The boys side will turn to underclassmen to kick off the season, as Archer hopes to bring both programs back to prominence in a reformatted 2A.
Class 2A added a fifth region this year to account for the growth of the classification.
“One of the best parts of working with a really young team is getting to see the big steps that we’re able to make with each practice and meet,” Archer said.
The Panthers welcome new head coach Dan Tamminga to lead a young crew in Class 3A, leaning on seniors Corbin Myers and Luna Moore to guide the program this fall. The Panther boys grew throughout the 2023 campaign, working their way into the middle of the 3A field and placing 11th at regionals.
“Most of the team is underclassmen, and we had several who put in training during the summer months,” Tamminga said.
A longtime educator within the school district, Tamminga brings a wealth of knowledge from his own running experiences.
“I look forward to having fun running with the kids and keep growing this team,” he said.
The area cross-country teams will see each other plenty this fall, as Dolores and Mancos will open the season Friday in Colorado Springs for the prestate Cheyenne Mountain Stampede.
Meets in Durango (Aug. 31), Alamosa (Sept. 7) and Bayfield (Sept. 14) precede Dolores’ Sept. 20 home meet.
Mancos will host its Chicken Creek Challenge on Oct. 12 before the regional meets in late October. The state championships will be held Nov. 2 at the Norris Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs.
