Cross Country: Douglas hosts successful season opener

The Douglas High School cross country team got solid performances from its returners and a couple pleasantly surprising performances from its newcomers Friday in the region's season opener at Lampe Park.

Senior Spencer Lewis turned in the top time out of all the Tigers, running the 2.5-mile course in 13 minutes, 51 seconds.

Juniors David Williams and Derrik Jenkins ran the course in 14:25 and 14:45 respectively and junior Whitney Lindsey ran it in 15:47 to turn in the top time for the Lady Tigers.

The race was run in class format, meaning all the freshmen raced against each other, all the sophomores, and so on. There were no team scores and no varsity or junior varsity classifications.

"Overall I was really pleased with how the kids ran," Douglas coach Keith Cole said. "It was a fun format with the classes racing individually and with this as the first meet of the season, it really helped the kids' confidence to see that they can run with the other schools.

"I thought Spencer, David and Derrick Jenkins really had great runs today. Even though they ran in different races, their times were close which is very encouraging at this point in the season."

Sophomore Taylor Biaggi completed the course in 16:09 to take the second best time among the Tiger girls.

"Whitney and Taylor looked really good," Cole said. "Both really came out and challenged the field and both were faster than they were last year on the same course.

"I think that bodes well for them as the year progresses."

Freshmen Scott Lococo and Amber Emerson ran the course in 15:40 and 20:17 respectively.

Sophomore Cory Trujillo ran it in 15:59.

Juniors Cassie Hood and Anna Chiapella posted times of 18:18 and 19:04 and seniors Charlie Cross (16:28), Mark Omohundro (19:15), Steven Forster (20:12) and Brigita Oxoby-Langford (20:40) had solid races as well.

"My biggest surprise was how well Cassie Hood and Scott Lococo ran," Cole said. "Scott had never run a high school meet before and solidified in my mind that he can run with the older boys.

"He looked tough on the course and kept up a consistant pace while surging past people at key points.

"For Cassie, she really struggled last year with injuries and I was not sure she would be able to come back. Boy was I wrong.

"She really had a great race and her time over the last half mile was some of the best work I have seen her do."