Eagle runners return stronger

CSC’s cross-country team isn’t running the span of the U.S., but they’re preparing for a season that looks semi-familiar. 

“This year, we’re able to have a preseason,” Head Cross-Country Coach Luke Karamitros said. “The fact that we’re able to start on a much stronger foundation this year is very exciting, and I think that’s going to reflect into our performances, how our team looks, and those kinds of things.” 

Last year, the cross-country team couldn’t have a preseason, but unlike other sports with shortened or moved seasons, the team still had the opportunity to gain some competition and experience, even if it didn’t feel the same. 

“Last year was kind of difficult to create those good habits as we were all over the place,” Karamitros said. “So, this year, we were able to get in a much better rhythm which the whole idea is to have all those habits which translate into our racing, that translate into what we’re trying to do later on once the championship season rolls around.”

Most of the returning runners competed in all three meets and reached personal bests during the 2020 season. 

For the women’s team, Tukker Romey, freshman of Gering, competed in all three meets and reached two personal bests in the 6k and the 5k at the 2020 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Cross-Country Championships and the Chadron State Cross-Country Invitational respectively. Romey’s 5k personal best was clocked at 20:09.3 and her 6k was 24:24.3. 

Also competing in all three meets, Sydney Settles, freshman of Lincoln, earned a new personal best in 5k at 20:47.8 during the Chadron State Cross-Country Invitational. 

For the women’s, Hannah Wilkie, freshman of Rangely, Colorado; Audrey Grinnan, freshman of Burlington, Colorado; and Kassyl Gunwall, freshman of Gordon, will return to the team for the 2021 season. 

“For us, one big thing we’ve been focusing on is being relentless in everything that we’re doing,” Karamitros said. “Putting a lot of focus into the little things, because the little things add up into the big things. So, all those things show and indicate that the group is moving on both the men’s and women’s side, the group is moving in the direction that we want to see them. Which like I said, creates that excitement among everybody.” 

Karamitros said that the team’s first weight room session with strength and conditioning staff and the first workout on the track were the best first sessions since he took over the coaching position about two years ago. 

Currently, there are no COVID-19 regulations but that’s something the coaches are paying close attention to.  

“Fortunately for us, we had that experience from last year which is making it more seamless for student-athletes to have to go through that process this year because they know what to expect and we can work around those things a little bit better,” Karamitros said. “We’re just trying to do our best to stay as safe as possible, even during this time because we all want to get through the season as healthy and strong as possible and we don’t want anything else to deter that.” 

For the men’s team, Jesse Jaramillo, junior of Scottsbluff, finished the 2020 season with the fastest 8k personal best for the team, at 26:30.4. 

Noah Burtis, sophomore of Berthoud, Colorado, ran in all three meets for the Eagles. He earned a personal best in the 8k with a time of 27:21.8. 

“I hope this year to improve on my recovery after practice and to see some faster times at meets this year,” Brutis said. “I also hope to see some improvement on the team this year with RMAC and regional placings.” 

Competing in all three meets, Ethan Roberts, freshman of Rapid City, South Dakota, ran a personal best of 27:51.1 at the 2020 RMAC Cross-Country Championships. 

Other returners for the Eagles include Jayson Caudell, freshman of Rock Springs, Wyoming; Cale Schafer, freshman of LaSalle, Colorado; Joaquin Venzor III, freshman of Greeley, Colorado; Garrett Avery, sophomore of Sheridan, Wyoming; and Logan Moravec, sophomore of Gering. 

“We’re still doing Sunday long runs, we’re still doing tempos and intervals, but it feels different because the team culture has changed without numbers,” Brutis said. “You feel more motivated to push a little harder because there’s more people pushing the pace behind you and there’s more people to cheer on when doing workouts on the track.” 

All the new recruits go through an adjusting period coming into college, whether they are from small towns or large cities. Each new student-athlete needs to adjust to the campus while properly budgeting their time and still getting their workouts done. 

“All in all, I think that the group is doing a very good job of integrating everyone together,” Karamitros said. “It’s really awesome to see that happening organically instead of always having to be there to make sure it happens.” 

The cross-country Eagles will start their season at the Hardrocker XC Classic, Sept. 4, and they will compete in four meets before the RMAC and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championship meets. 

“This season, I am looking forward to seeing the improvement in my teammates along with myself,” Burtis said. “We had a small young team the past couple years and I feel that us returners have grown a lot from our experiences.”