Trojans boys cross-country take top honors at division finals

Trojans cross-country runner Bryce Odegard won bragging rights last Saturday as he ran away with the Class 3 A Sunset League individual title on Saturday at Basic High School, beating Rylan Banegas of Cheyenne by 20 seconds and 31 other runners.

Odegard ran the 3.1-mile course in 17 minutes, 27.2 seconds, while Banegas finished in 17:49.4 and Pahrump’s Layron Sonerholm finished in third, 18:21.

Odegard and Sonerholm helped their team win the division title. There were five schools in the race and Pahrump finished in first with 34 points, Cheyenne second (35), Desert Pines third (80), Western fourth place (103) and Mojave fifth(114).

Pahrump had a good showing with six runners finishing in the top 15.

Grant Odegard finished in ninth (19:17.2), Jacob Cipollini 10th place (19:36.9), Stephen Thelaner 11th place (19:50.6) and Michael Sonerholm 15th place (20:08.7).

According to Trojans coach Matt Kolodzieczyk the divisional meet was not too important.

“It will not determine who moves on,” he said. The meet was for bragging rights only. The Trojans did well even with their third best runner out, Cole Goodman.

“I sat him out with a sore calf so he can get ready for the regionals,” Kolodzieczyk said.

Kolodzieczyk said his team knows the regional course, which will be at Craig Ranch Park.

That will be an advantage for the southern runners because they will also run the same course for the state meet.

“This course is flat and has lots of grass,” the coach said. “The weather could play a factor if it’s warm. I just remember the Northern kids asking for lots of water the last time it was here.”

The top four teams will qualify for the state meet.

“I am hoping for the boys that they take first at regionals,” the coach said. “For state, anything better for the boys than a fifth place finish will do,” he said.

Fifth place is what the Trojans boys did last year.

The girls took third out of three teams. Cheyenne was first (36 points), Desert Pines was second (40), Pahrump (44).

There were 29 girls in their heat. Grace Plumb for the Trojans finished in third place (23:52.8), Diamond Sonerholm was 10th (25.22.2), Terrena Martin 11th (25:22.8), Alicia Quiroz 13th (25:35.4), and Katherine Goodman 15th (26:02.9).

Diamond Sonerholm also ran a tough race in the Bud Odea Classic, where she finished 7th overall and second in the Class 3A.

This year the girls ran above their expectations, the coach said.

“I am glad where we are at,” Kolodzieczyk said. “I have always hoped for this. And if the girls make state that would be fine with me.”

Kolodzieczyk believes his girls are ranked fourth and so they should go to state.

The boys and girls 3A Southern Region meet is Friday, Oct. 28 at Craig Ranch Regional Park in North Las Vegas. The state meet is at the same park Saturday, Nov. 5.

Contact sports editor Vern Hee at vhee@pvtimes.com