LAKE MEAD INVITE: Shadow Ridge boys motor to title

The Shadow Ridge boys cross country team didn’t take long to make its mark at the Lake Mead Invitational at Veterans Memorial Park on Saturday.

Nick Oberdin, with a time of 17 minutes, 1 second, and David Peters (17:06.5) claimed the top two spots in the 3.1 mile course,  as all five scoring runners for the Mustangs finished in the top 12.

“It was hot, and the course was soft, but it was alright,” Oberdin said. “I like running with David. It worked out well for us. We get along great.”

Oberdin and Peters broke away from a significant pack of runners after the first mile, which included Desert Oasis’ Frankie Martinez, Bonanza’s Robert Rudd, Arbor View’s Cole Jones, and Faith Lutheran’s Chase Wood.

From that point, the two Mustangs cruised to victory and helped to vault Shadow Ridge into the top spot for large schools with a team score of 29.

“The guys ran great today,” said Shadow Ridge coach Patrick Fitzgerald said. “We have a really good tandem with Nick and David. David is the risk taker, and Nick is the analyst.”

Green Valley finished in second place with 78 points and Desert Oasis (111) nipped Arbor View by three points to take third.

Martinez finished third with a time of 17:22.4. Rudd (17:25.7) edged Jones (17:32.8) for fourth place in the large schools.

Wood led the small school runners with a time of 17:35.2, and Luis Martinez of Sunrise Mountain followed with a mark of 18:00.7. Boulder City’s Chandler Harkins (18:05.2), Evan Klouse (18:05.9), and Harrison Brown (18:29.6) rounded out the top five.

The Eagles earned the best team score of the small schools with 49, and Virgin Valley (71) held off Faith Lutheran (78) for second place. 

Arbor View runner Zanae Jones captured the large school girls title. The junior, who led from the start of the race, was challenged late by a trio of small-school runners — Hannah Pavlov of Faith Lutheran, Jessica Tobler of Boulder City  and Ebonique Diaz of Sunrise Mountain.

Despite the push, Jones persevered with a time of 20:23.5. Pavlov clocked in at 20:56.5 for second, and Tobler finished third with a time of 20:53.3.

Rounding out the top five in large school scoring was Shadow Ridge’s Clara Jackson (20:56.5), Arbor View’s Madison Fletcher (21:02.6), Green Valley’s Lindy Eskin (21:11.1), and Bonanza’s Emily Adams (21:17.3).

“They ran a good race today,” Arbor View coach Tyrel Cooper said. “We’ve been working hard. This was kind of a 'fun day’ for us. No real pressure. (Jones) has really taken that role over of being No. 1 and being the team leader. She’s not a real vocal leader but she’s a leader-by-example girl. Everybody looks up to her.”

Pavlov said she was happy with being the top small-school runner in the race.

“I tried to catch (Jones), but I started too late,” the sophomore said. “Yeah, today was good, better than (Tuesday’s) Frosh-Soph (race). That was bad. I went out too fast on that one.”

After Pavlov, Tobler, ad Diaz, Faith Lutheran’s Leah Holleran (21:32.6) nipped Moapa Valley’s Kacy Udall (22:45.6) for fourth place in the small school race.

Arbor View won the large school team title with a score of 39. The Aggies were followed by Shadow Ridge (66), Green Valley (69), Basic (102), and Bonanza (134).

Faith Lutheran won the girls small school division with 51 points, running past Sunrise Mountain (61), Pahrump Valley (69), Boulder City (73), and Laughlin (84).