Fernley runners off to good start

Robert Perea, The Fernley Reporter

Highlighted by the boys team winning the small school varsity division at their second meet, the Fernley High School cross country team has gotten its season off to a good start.

The boys team won the small school division at the Nature’s Bakery Nevada Twilight Classic at Shadow Mountain Park in Sparks on Sept. 1.

“I was very pleased with everyone running,” coach Todd Wright said.

Eric Rosales finished third with a time of 14:40 on the 4,000 meter course. Josh Kirk was fourth in 14:46, and Mason Tannehill finished seventh in 14:59.

For the girls team, Piper Crook finished third in 16:59 and Janae Dernley took 10yh in 17:41.

The Vaqueros also got to watch Grace DeLeon make her college debut for St. Mary’s in the collegiate race, where she finished 23^rd in a time of 17:04.

Friday, the Vaqueros were scheduled to run in the North Tahoe Kiwanis Invite, but the meet was canceled because of lightning.

“We stayed around and after the lightning passed my team still wanted to race the course, even though it was raining some,” Wright said. “Even without any competition the kids ran amazing. I was extremely proud of them.”

The Vaqueros started the season at the Douglas Class Races Aug. 25.

The top performance there was by Crook, who placed second in the junior girls race with a time of 16:23 in a 2.55 mile race. Tayler Zolyniak was ninth in 17:37, while in the sophomore girls race, Derley finished 10^th in 17:41.

This week, the Vaqueros compete Friday at the Dayton DustDevils Cross County Meet.