The Pahrump Valley High School cross country team delivered strong performances at the Larry Burgess Invitational on September 6, with both the boys and girls teams showing great improvement and resilience. Head Coach Erik Odegard praised the team’s efforts, highlighting key performances from both returning athletes and newcomers.
The freshman boys are beginning to make their mark on the team. Josh Gent, in his first-ever 5K, finished with an impressive time of 19:33, placing 3rd for the Trojans. Josh Flores and Daniel Thompson also ran well, continuing to improve their times and offering crucial support to the team. Coach Odegard noted, “The freshman boys are finding their niche and are proving to be an integral part of the Trojan team.”
Antonio Veloz had another standout performance, setting a personal record (PR) and earning a medal in a highly competitive race. His efforts have moved him up to the #3 spot in Southern Nevada 3A. “Antonio ran a great race and PR’d again, showing his strength in a tough competition,” Odegard said.
Timmy Stutzman and newcomer Joaquin Flores also displayed resilience, overcoming a slow start and working their way through a field of over 230 runners. Flores, in particular, finished 2nd for the Trojans with a new PR, while Stutzman maintained a strong pace throughout the race.
In the Varsity B race, Jacob Seeback led the Trojans, setting a personal record as he worked his way through a group of over 115 runners. Tanner Gott showed major improvement, cutting more than two minutes off his time from his last race. Noah Flores also continues to progress, recording faster times each week.
On the girls’ side, the team is getting healthier and steadily improving. Freshman Keelee Gieni had a great race, moving up the ranks to finish 4th for the Trojans. Sasha Strain, Savannah Thompson, and Alexis Clouser ran most of the race together, working hard and showing strong teamwork. Thompson and Clouser both medaled, contributing to the girls’ 3rd place finish behind 4A Sky Point and Utah-based Hurricane. “The girls competed well, even down a couple of runners, and are setting themselves up for success,” Odegard added.
The Trojans are showing continued improvement each week as they build momentum for the rest of the season. With each race, they are gaining confidence and setting themselves up for a successful year.
*A special thanks to Vanessa Clouser for some of the photos.
