Our sport is your sport’s punishments

One of the most challenging sports is cross country. On a daily basis, you will find the Falcon High School Cross Country team running the streets of Stapleton, Millard, Flaming Sun, Arroya and the surrounding neighborhoods. They also endured the Manitou Springs Incline.Under the guidance of coaches Lisa Ratterree and Cameron Magnall, the FHSCC team consists of 40 members. A strong boys team includes returning seniors Nick White, Samuel Patton, Paul Ables, Josh Shannon, Mike Keck and Shawn Kyle along with the talent of returning underclassmen Ryan Bosworth, Dominic Patton, Kevin Johnson, Wes Rickman, Chris McGraw and Anthony Brende. The addition of new underclassmen rounds out the team. This awesome team looks forward to returning to state championships this year.The girls’ team is equally as talented with strong returning juniors Mercedes White and Ericka McCammon and sophomores Stephanie Klima, Bianca Kriel, Brianna Keck and Sara Horne.With the additional talent of seniors Caroline Ratterree and Rachel Thomas and other underclassmen, this girls team also has their sights set on the state championship.The first invitational scrimmage was held in Denver at D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School. It was a great race day, rainy and cool. The course took them through muddy fields, a “run off” stream and up a large hillside. Almost all of the runners’ times had improved from the beginning of last season. This is attributed to running with the Falcon Running Club during the summer months to maintain their long distance endurance. Along with running, the club enjoyed hiking/running through StanleyCanyon to Farrish camp grounds and camping on Cadet Hill. They also endured the Manitou Springs Incline.The Antler Creek Golf Course in conjunction with the Falcon Running Club is sponsoring the Falcon High School Cross Country Invitational on the morning of Sept. 30.Below is a complete schedule of the FHSCC team, beginning with Sept. 30.