The Pahrump Valley High School cross country team delivered an impressive performance at the inaugural Faith Lutheran Harvest race, using the event as a vital warm-up for Regionals. Both the boys and girls teams performed well, readying themselves for the season’s next big challenge.
“The race was a great warm-up to Regionals,” Coach Odegard explained. “We had a specific goal we were trying to achieve during this race. Grabbing some confidence and running faster this week was all we were trying to do. The athletes in the open races for both the boys and girls did exactly what we wanted—they raced each other. We’ve been pushing this all season about running together and pushing each other the entire race.”
The Trojan athletes dominated the open races, sweeping the top spots in both the boys’ and girls’ divisions. The girls took the first five places, with another runner finishing in seventh, while the boys claimed the first seven positions. The young athletes also found new levels of performance. “It was great to see how they were all running fast and all came across the line within seconds of each other. The younger boys on the team found that next level and now know how fast they can run,” Odegard said.
The focus for both the boys and girls was on improving their per-mile pace, and the results were clear. “We wanted the kids to see that they can up their per-mile time so they can push that time next week at the regional meet,” Odegard added.
In the Varsity division, only one PVHS girl, sophomore Sophie Romero, competed in the longer race. “Sophie felt as though she would benefit from running the longer race as she preps herself to get up to speed,” Odegard noted. Although the girls’ course measured longer than a 5K at around 3.3 miles, Romero still achieved a personal best, shaving more than two and a half minutes off her previous time and narrowly missing a medal.
The boys’ Varsity race saw several athletes post personal records (PRs). Jacob Seeback and Jacob McLaughlin both broke into the 19-minute range for the first time, while Noah Flores hit 20 minutes, all improving by more than a minute. Meanwhile, Isaac Norton and Tanner Gott raced to the finish line together, both earning PRs in the low 21-minute range.
Coach Odegard also highlighted a special achievement by Akim Kahn, who completed a 5K comfortably for the first time this season after dealing with a summer injury. “We are so excited for him to build off this for next year,” Odegard said.
With strong performances across the board, the Trojans have gained the momentum they need heading into Regionals. “This race was exactly what we wanted—a chance for the athletes to stretch their legs, race each other, and see how far they could push themselves,” Odegard said.
The team is now focused on bringing their newfound speed and confidence to Regionals, ready to make a strong showing as they cap off an already exciting season.
