As the fall season commences, cross-country runners continue to push towards their goals, as the Reds have already competed in five meets. The cross country season started off with the Rocky Mountain Lobo Invite, Severance Silver Knight Invite, Legacy Lightning Invite, Wolverine XC Invite, and the Liberty Bell XC Invite. Head coach Jaryn Guerra has built up her program, rostering 18 runners for the 2022 season. The two seniors on the team, Maddie Robson and Logan Gullett have high hopes for not only their team but for themselves as well. Robson said, “Every meet I focus on the steps I need to take to go further… I plan on getting faster at each meet by not making excuses and no longer ignoring the guilt that comes from when I do make excuses.” 

At the Wolverine Invite, the girls showed up and ran hard. Andie Rassmussun (24) came in second for the Reds, running a 19.37.30. Aedalin Barclay (24) came in 13th place, running a 21:42.70. At the Wolverine Invite Maddie Fisher (24) shaved four minutes off her SB with a time of 25:57.50. The girls came in fifth place out of twelve competing schools, running an average time of 23:04, and the boys came in seventh out of seventeen teams, running an average time of 19:51. Coach Guerra said, “The Wolverine Invite was a big meet for the entire team. Every athlete got into a competitive mindset and everyone ran a season-best or a PR.” 

Gullett was the only Red to compete in the Liberty Bell Invite but had a killer performance after going head to head with 4A and 5A runners. Gullett is a very competitive runner so to enter into 4A and 5A meets, the time qualification to race is faster than in a 3A meet. Gullett’s time met the qualifications, so he was able to compete. Gullett ran a 15:14, coming in 11th place with a 21-second PR. Guerra said, “Hopefully Logan can break 15 and win state. He’s looking for redemption after his second-place finish at state last year, and he’s looking stronger than ever.”  

Looking ahead at the upcoming meets, the Reds will look toward the second half of their season which includes league and regionals, which is where runners will secure a spot in the State Cross Country Championships. “I am most proud of the grit that the team has shown… it is brutal to run in 100-degree heat and every single day they come to work and never complain,” said Guerra. In recent years, Gullett and Rasmussen have been the only two Eaton representatives for the Reds at the state meet. Both runners have a high chance of not only qualifying for state with their record-crushing times but placing very high or even winning a state title. 

To keep up with the Reds, be sure to tune into Eaton Red Ink for weekly updates or check Colorado Milesplit for instant times after the race.