The Pahrump Valley High School Cross Country team had an outstanding performance at the 44th Mt. Carmel Invitational on Saturday, September 21, 2024, held at Balboa Park in San Diego. The event presented a challenging course filled with steep hills and difficult terrain, but the Trojans rose to the occasion, showing both individual excellence and strong teamwork.
Eight boys represented PVHS, and despite the difficulty of the course, they worked together to achieve impressive finishes. Leading the way was Antonio Veloz, who finished 40th overall out of 154 runners, earning himself a medal. Head Coach Erik Odegard praised Veloz’s performance, stating, “Antonio ran a great race, finishing strong in a highly competitive field.”
The rest of the boys’ team displayed a remarkable team effort in the last mile of the race, pushing one another to strong finishes. Timmy Stutzman and Joaquin Flores finished within seconds of each other, while teammates Josh Gent, Josh Flores, Daniel Thompson, Logan Tilley, and Jacob McLaughlin completed the race within 30 seconds of one another. Coach Odegard commended the boys for their resilience, saying, “They worked as a team, which is exactly what we want to see in a race like this. The kids ran several hills throughout a fully grass and dirt course, and they pushed each other to great finishes.”
The girls’ team had an exceptional race as well, with five runners earning medals by finishing in the top 50. Savannah Thompson led the charge for the Trojans, with Sasha Strain, Alexis Clouser, and Keelee Geini all finishing under 25 minutes. These top performances helped the girls’ team secure a third-place overall finish.
Coach Odegard highlighted the significance of their achievement, stating, “The girls attacked the extreme uphill and downhill sections with determination. This was the toughest course our kids will see this year, and they embraced the challenge.” The team was rounded out by Alejandra Abraca-Franco, Ella Odegard, and Kimberly Trejo, who all contributed to pacing the Trojans to their third place finish.
Reflecting on the experience, Coach Odegard emphasized the importance of these kinds of races for the athletes’ development. “This race was a great experience for the kids to get out and see new competition and different courses. It’s also a fantastic opportunity for team bonding,” he said. “I’m hoping this is the breakout race that some of the kids needed to show themselves just how successful they can be.”
The Trojans now look forward to carrying the momentum from this race into future competitions, continuing to push themselves as a team and as individuals.
Alejandra Abraca-Franco, Sasha Strain, Keelee Gieni, Alexis Clouser and Savannah Thompson
