Sara Sandstrom, Nederland. On a hot October day wildfire smoke filled the air as high school cross country runners from different parts of Colorado came to Lyons, Colorado. October 8, 2020, was the date for the regional cross country meet and conditions were less than ideal. Still the excitement of being at regionals and the nervous excitement of the race was felt. 

Cross country running is on a 5K course. It is a fast race. It is a lot to ask your body to do. Add more than 80 degrees Fahrenheit and smoke and the challenge was more intense for four Nederland High School runners.

Nederland High School cross country coach Kira Badyrka said, “Even though they may not have gotten their best times this race, they all put everything into it, getting solid times and running smart races. I feel like everyone ran the best race they were capable of that day and I’m super proud of them!”

The four Ned runners at regionals this year were senior Dante Lanthier, sophomores Eirwen McClish and Ivy Brundage and freshman Trinity LeBlanc.

The Lyons course was mostly on grass and dirt with very little shade. Also, the course was three loops which made it a mentally difficult run.

Cross country is one of the few high school sports that the Colorado High School Activities Association is permitting during Covid, and the Nederland team deserves recognition for going out there everyday to run and participate in the few meets that were allowed.

Coach Kira Badyrka says, “Overall, it was a great season despite its unique challenges. I can’t stress enough how amazing these kids are! No coach could ask for a better group. They have the best attitudes, always support each other, and put their whole efforts into running. We got a lot of good training in this short season and I saw growth from all of them.”

The runners’ times at the regional race were: Dante Lanthier 22:46, Trinity LeBlanc 24:23, Eirween McClish 26:11, Ivy Brundage 32:55. 

(Originally published in the October 15, 2020, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)