HIGHLANDS RANCH | The Regis Jesuit boys and girls cross country teams tuned up for regional state qualifying meets with a solid performance at Wednesday’s Continental League Championships.
The Raiders moved up a spot in both the girls (sixth) and boys (eighth) team standings from pre-meet projections and very nearly climbed higher.
Regis Jesuit had the 15th-place finisher in both the boys and girls races on the course that began in Redstone Park and ended in Shea Stadium, as senior Jack Davidson grabbed that spot in the boys race in a time of 17 minutes, 56 seconds, while junior Julia Vitella took it in the girls race in 21:25.
Davidson didn’t run in the boys varsity race last season, but sophomore Austin Layne did and moved up 15 places from 45th in 2014 to 30th for Regis Jesuit this season.
Vitella took second place in the girls race as a freshman in 2013 and finished in eighth last season, but came in this year behind a dominating wave from Mountain Vista (which won with a score of 26 points) and runner-up Rock Canyon (95) — who combined for eight of the top-10 finishers. Sophomore Sydney Lindquist improved by seven places to 28th for the Raiders.
Regis Jesuit’s next race comes on Oct. 22 when the Raiders join fellow Aurora teams Cherokee Trail, Gateway, Grandview and Overland at the Class 5A Region 2 race at the Aurora Sports Park, where they’ll try to earn their way into the Oct. 31 5A state meet at the Norris Penrose Equestrian Center.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel
2015 CONTINENTAL LEAGUE CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Oct. 14 at Redstone Park/Shea Stadium
Boys team scores: 1. Mountain Vista 17 points; 2. Rock Canyon 76; 3. Legend 102; 4. Chaparral 139; 5. Douglas County 153; 6. Heritage 157; 7. ThunderRidge 182; 8. REGIS JESUIT 189; 9. Castle View 251; 10. Ponderosa 255; 11. Highlands Ranch 263
Girls team scores: 1. Mountain Vista 26 points; 2. Rock Canyon 95; 3. ThunderRidge 99; 4. Heritage 143; 5. Highlands Ranch 161; 6. REGIS JESUIT 163; 7. Castle View 166; 8. Douglas County 180; 9. Chaparral 189; 10. Legend 211; 11. Ponderosa 326
Aurora boys team results (team placing)
Regis Jesuit (189): 15. Jack Davidson, 17 minutes, 56 seconds; 30. Austin Layne, 18:36; 35. Parker Churchill, 18:48; 54. Steven Bruening, 19:42; 55. Florenzo Bauer, 19:42; 59. Alex Baldwin, 19:50; 65. Christopher Long, 20:12
Aurora girls team results (team placing)
Regis Jesuit (163): 15. Julia Vitella, 21 minutes, 25 seconds; 28. Sydney Lindquist, 22:21; 33. Devon Johnson, 22:45; 43. Katie Schilmoeller, 23:33; 44. Megan Tartell, 23:34; 45. Kelly Grubaugh, 23:38; 52. Lily Brucker, 24:00
More Continental League Championship results, here.