Meek, Lady Bulldogs run hot in HOTchkiss

The rolling adobe hillsides, locally referred to as the ‘dobies,’ at the doorstep of Hotchkiss High School provide remarkable training grounds for cross country.  It is little wonder the Bulldogs have built a 2A powerhouse program worthy to make larger classifications envious. 

 

Though formatted differently, the Hotchkiss Cross Country Invitational provides a great tune-up for the State course at Norris Penrose Event Center.

 

Right from the start, the runners are faced with a long gradual uphill that mercifully turns off on the contour a bit over a quarter mile into the race. Unless you are on the floor of the dobies, however, the contour simply provides an up-and-down roll that makes it difficult to hit a stride and maintain it. 

 

About two-thirds of a mile in, the racers go through a gate and ...