The Pahrump Valley High School (PVHS) Cross Country team launched their season with a strong showing at Mission Hills Park in Henderson for the Thompson Twilight Race on Friday, August 16th. Competing against 10 other teams from across the region, the Trojans demonstrated both determination and promise as they tackled the challenging course in a series of races.
Head Coach Erik Odegard expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance, noting, “The athletes had a fun first race this year at Mission Hills Park. It was great to see the kids get out and compete for the first time this season.”
The races were broken down into three different groups for both the boys’ and girls’ teams. On the girls’ side, Savannah Thompson was the sole PVHS runner in the Varsity race, where she finished an impressive 9th place. Competing against several Las Vegas schools, Thompson’s performance was particularly noteworthy as she continues to recover from a summer injury. “Savannah ran well as she continues to heal, and her determination is truly inspiring,” said Odegard.
In addition to the Varsity race, six other PVHS girls participated in a relay event. The team of Sasha Strain, Alejandra Abarca-Franco, and Alexis Clouser claimed 1st place, while the Freshman team of Keelee Gieni, Ella Odegard, and Kimberly Trejo secured a 5th place finish. These results reflect the girls’ potential as they gear up for what promises to be an exciting season. Odegard emphasized, “These girls are pushing each other to new heights. With a few more athletes set to compete next week, we’re looking forward to seeing even more progress.”
The boys’ team kicked off the night with three athletes running in the open 5K. Josh Gent led the Trojans with a 7th place finish, followed by Tanner Gott and Noah Flores, who came in 14th and 17th, respectively. All three are newcomers to the team and delivered commendable performances in their first race. “It was really encouraging to see the newcomers step up and run so well,” Odegard remarked.
The boys also fielded two relay teams. The team of Kelden Frederiksen, Jacob McLaughlin, and Nathan Miller narrowly finished ahead of Ethan Johnson, Jacob Seeback, and Sam Grabbe. Coach Odegard noted, “The kids seemed to have fun with the relay format. It was a great way to kick off the season with something different.”
In the Varsity race, the boys’ team showed their competitiveness against larger schools. Antonio Veloz led the Trojans with a 9th place finish, followed by Josh Flores and Joaquin Flores, both new to the team, who placed in the top 25. Timmy Stutzman and Ben Cimperman worked together to maintain a strong pace, finishing just behind their teammates. Freshman Daniel Thompson and Isaac Norton rounded out the PVHS competitors, contributing to the team’s overall strong performance. “Everyone had a good night,” Odegard said, “and it was especially great to see Freshmen like Josh Flores and Josh Gent perform so well in their first 5Ks.”
Looking ahead, the PVHS Cross Country team is set to compete at the Red Rock Running Invitational on Saturday, August 24th. This meet will offer a new challenge as the team breaks up into different groups, with newcomers racing in their own event while the returners compete in another. “All athletes will look to build off this performance,” Odegard concluded, expressing confidence in his team’s ability to continue their momentum as the season progresses.
