Horn, Blackburn lead at first races of 2025

Sept. 3 Editor's note: This story has been re-edited for clarity.

The first two weeks of the cross country season were filled with conditioning and mileage. It was all in preparation of the final weekend of August with first order of business and the Glenrock High School  athletes didn’t disappoint. 

Good starting marks were set among the boys and girls teams, and head coach Chris Gray shared nothing but praise about the first huge test of 2025. The squad took on more than two dozen teams from Wyoming and Colorado at the annual Wyoming Invitational, at the Little America Golf Club in Cheyenne, site of the State championships next month. 

In the boys side of the action, sophomore Koi Horn was impressive in finishing 57 out of 196 runners with a time of 18 minutes, 31 seconds. The pace was a quick one with Lucas Wik of Boulder, Colorado winning it all at 16:07.06.

Second among the Herders was Haiden Ward. The junior recorded a solid starting time to chase as he finished the 5K in 21:00 flat.

Junior Michael Schowengerdt is back for his third season and finished third among the Herders after stopping the watch in 21:23. Sophomore Nick Ticknor was right on Schowengerdt’s heels and was just three seconds back at 23:03.

Freshman Charlie Halvorsen was next to cross the finish line and not far back from GHS when he notched a 23:20. Freshman Ethan Stanfield did will in his varsity debut and ran his way to a time of 23:52.

Junior Colter Lewis thrived in his first 5k race and delivered a 22:13. Freshman Charlie Halvorsen ran well in his inaugural varsity action and posted a 23:20, just ahead of another newcomer freshman Ethan Stanfield 23:52.

Returning letterman Manny Coulter, the lone senior running for a Glenrock, locked down a 24:36 to kickoff to his farewell tour. Sophomore Lane Repshire was next to finish at 27:09.

Boulder High School had three top-10 placers to win the meet with 31 points. Glenrock was the 21 of 26 but fourth among 3A programs with 569 points.

In the girls race, Glenrock was small but filled with experience.

Sophomore Kennley Blackburn picked up where she left off last season and was first among the Herders with a time of 25:12.

Lucy Ticknor started her final season on the trails and did good. The senior was second on the  roster with a new time to chase this week when she crossed the finish line in 26:58.

Sophomore Maggie Halvorsen is back for year two and completed her first 3.1-mile race in 27:11.

Maggie Madsen of Cheyenne East won the day with a blazing time of 19.00.85

Cheyenne Central had three runners in the top six and took the team title with an impressive 38 points. 

Glenrock standout runners Gillian Holman and Owen Partridge did not compete but could be back as early as this week. 

“The kids completed really well versus some very large schools. They didn’t back down and ran with a lot of heart. Colter Lewis was a nice addition to the team, he is running really well and seems to fit right in with the rest of the team,” coach Gray said. “Koi Horn ran great and the two freshmen, Charlie and Ethan, ran well for their first 5K competition. Overall, coach Geary and I were very pleased with the results and the effort from all the runners.”