Durango High School Teams Shine at Joe I. Vigil Open
The Durango High School cross country teams achieved significant milestones on September 16, 2023, at the 32nd annual Joe I. Vigil Open in Alamosa. The boys’ team secured first place among 35 competing high school teams, while the girls’ team finished third out of 27 female teams.
Head coach Michael Fadil expressed confidence prior to the race, stating, “I told them both going in that they had real shots to win.” The boys’ team outperformed expectations, finishing with a team score of 122 points. They were closely followed by La Cueva High School, which scored 134 points, and The Classical Academy at 142 points. Notably, senior Miles Snow led the boys with a personal-best time of 16 minutes and 9.8 seconds, securing a 12th-place finish among 403 finishers.
Fadil noted the challenges posed by the course conditions, which were slightly muddy due to prior rain. “There was a bit of sloppiness, especially on the cart paths,” he commented. Despite this, the boys maintained a strong performance, demonstrating a cohesive team dynamic with only a 40-second gap between their first and fifth runners. Junior Rocco Enea made a notable comeback, finishing 18th with a time of 16:22.3 after overcoming health issues that limited his training last season.
On the girls’ side, the Demons finished with a total score of 82 points, behind The Classical Academy, which won with 53 points, and Cheyenne Mountain, which also finished with 82 points but won the tiebreaker. Freshman Zia Fadil led the girls with a commendable fourth-place finish in 18:27.5. Her teammate, junior Lacy Ruggiero, secured sixth place with a time of 18:53. Coach Fadil encouraged his runners to develop their racing strategies, emphasizing the importance of working together.
In addition to cross country, other Durango High School teams faced varying fortunes over the weekend. The boys’ soccer team began with a promising 2-0 victory against Palisade but suffered a disappointing loss to Fruita Monument, finishing 1-5. Coach Sean Ackerman expressed disappointment over the second match but remained optimistic about the team’s potential as they regroup ahead of their next game.
The volleyball team faced challenges during the Lewis-Palmer Tournament, resulting in a 1-3 record, which dropped their overall record to 2-8. The highlight was a victory against Coronado, ending the tournament on a positive note.
In the realm of high school mountain biking, Durango excelled, winning the Division 2 title at the Haymaker Classic-Piedra and showcasing strong individual performances.
Looking ahead, the Durango High School cross country team will compete at the University of New Mexico Lobo Invitational on September 23, 2023, where they aim to build on their recent successes. The boys’ soccer team is set to host Grand Junction on September 23, while the volleyball team will play against Palisade.
These performances illustrate the competitive spirit and resilience of Durango High School athletes as they navigate their seasons.
