Mavericks battle through tough Gorge course

GEORGE — It was the Moses Lake Mavericks turn to host a cross country meet on Thursday, as they held their annual Live Nation Invitational at the Gorge Amphitheater. Twenty additional high schools competed in the event, but it was the Mavericks finishing first overall for the boys and girls teams among large schools.  

“I was talking to a coach from another team, and he told his kids it really is about placement, not time,” Head Coach Larry Dagnon said. “Not every race is going to be a PR race, and (in) some of them, it's the course versus you and vice versa, and you've got to take that on and realize that not all courses are created to be fast, and this one wasn't.” 

The route constructed at the Gorge Amphitheater was full of varying inclines, haybale hurdles and plenty of zigs and zags. It begins down by the stage where runners immediately have to climb about 350 feet before they jump haybales before navigating the campground where another 300-foot climb awaits them. From there, they power through various twists and turns as they try to get some energy back. To top it all off, runners are tasked with one final climb up the amphitheater grass to the finish line.  

“I've been told that it's a very mean ending. It was a very tough course. Let's see some of the quotes (from runners), ‘I never want to run again,’” Dagnon said. “It really is designed to test kids' limits and push it, and we want it to be fun.” 

On the boys varsity squad, six out of seven runners finished in the top 10 among large schools. Lane Christensen (17:27.0) took second with Maxwell Jolley (17:47.8) came in fourth to round out the top five. Not far behind was Liam Roseburg (17:56.0), Colton Lucero (17:58.4), Noah Demchuk (18:02.7), Jonathan Sandoval (18:18.8) and Gillis Ward-Guthrie (18:43.1).  

On the girls side, five of six runners made the top 10, while three landed inside the top five among large schools. Rachel Nofziger (20:49.8) took first, while delivering a gritty finish to her race on the final climb. As she turned the corner, she was initially passed up by an opposing runner. Undeterred, she found another gear and regained the lead as she climbed the steep hill to the finish line.  

“Rachel is a battler, and one thing about her is, she's always up for competing,” Dagnon said. “She a competitor by nature, and she's extremely gifted, but she also really embraces the mental side and she was just in a really tight race with a couple of (runners). There was a girl from Chelan and a girl from Valley Christian, they had to separate, and they just they really put everything they had in it.”  

Dagnon further emphasized Nofziger’s reliability as a competitor when the Mavericks need results.  

“Rachel just responds when the chips are down and you need something,” he said. “I couldn't tell you how many times where I said, ‘Rachel, you need to go get two people,’ and it seems almost insurmountable, then all of a sudden, she's caught them. She's just a really tough runner.” 

Putting in strong performances behind her were Natalie Vehrs (21:27.8), Aspen Hoenes (21:34.5), Emily Bong (21:44.0), Amelia Olascon (21:51.8) and Kaytlyn Russell (22:55.3). 

After another challenging race, the Mavericks workload slows slightly with about 10 days between their next race, which will be the second league meet of the season at Walla Walla Point Park on Oct. 20. 

“I think they all realize that they've had some hard courses in their mind, and having been to Wenatchee already, they're feeling pretty confident about that,” Dagnon said. “We held them back a little bit on the first league meet, and we're going to let them go a little bit. Hopefully it'll turn out how we'd like. But you can never take away from what another team is going to do. Our league is very good, and they're all very well coached, and everyone's getting faster this time of year.” 

Boys 5k – Large Schools: 

2 – Lane Christensen, 17:27.0 

4 – Maxwell Jolley, 17:47.8 

6 – Liam Roseburg, 17:56.0 

7 – Colton Lucero, 17:58.4 

8 – Noah Demchuk, 18:02.7 

10 – Jonathan Sandoval, 18:18.8  

13 – Gillis Ward-Guthrie, 18:43.1 

Girls 5k – Large Schools 

1 – Rachel Nofziger, 20:49.8 

4 – Natalie Vehrs, 21:27.8 

5 – Aspen Hoenes, 21:34.5 

6 – Emily Bong, 21:44.0 

7 – Amelia Olascon, 21:51.8 

13 – Kayltlyn Russell, 22:55.3 

    Lane Christensen leads a pack of runners during the boys varsity 5k at the Live Nation Invitational on Thursday.
  

    A Mavericks runner makes the final climb of the girls varsity 5k at the Live Nation Invitational.
  

    The Mavs’ Noah Demchuk (3850) keeps pace with an opposing runner during the boys varsity 5k on Thursday.