The Moffat County boys have come out strong enough this season to find their way into the 3A rankings following a long absence. They'll be looking to improve their standing this weekend. Photo by Alan Versaw.
Most years, at least, there's nothing faster to be found on the Western Slope, though the Delta Invitational and/or the Delta regional meets have been known to give this race a run for its money.
If you've ever been to the Connected Lakes state park parcel along the river in western Grand Junction, you've been to where this meet is located. You need no reminder that it's plenty flat (unless to spin off into the lakes) and there's no shortage of hard surface to be found. If they could find a way to put 50 or so feet of drop into the course, this one just might be as fast as Liberty Bell.
And, also like Liberty Bell, there's actually quite a bit of shade to be enjoyed along the course. I would add, though, the the birding (and likely the fishing, too) is decidedly better at Connected Lakes that on the Liberty Bell course, though that is somewhat a function of season.
It's a solid list of Western Slope teams, plus Grandview, turning out for this year's running of the Anna Banana. Joining host school Fruita Monument at this meet are: Central, Delta, Eagle Valley, Grand Valley, Meeker, Middle Park, Moffat County, Montezuma-Cortez, Montrose, Olathe, Ouray, Palisade, Paonia, Rangely, Summit, and Telluride.
That would appear to make Ian Meek the presumptive favorite to win the boys title, with three or four more who could make things interesting on the right day. My sense is that Greta Van Calcar checks in as the female favorite under much the same circumstances.
Identifying the strongest team in the field is a slightly more difficult undertaking, but we can be sure that the small schools have a chance to make some big noise here. One especially interesting match-up pits rising 3A powers Middle Park and Moffat County against each other.
If you twist my arm to pick a team favorite here among the boys, I would note that Fruita Monument's boys have been mostly having their way with Western Slope fields so far this fall and probably figure as the team to beat in their own home meet.
As you think of girls team favorites, you have to give at least some thought to 2A Telluride. There have been 2A girls teams that have won this meet before, so why not?
Racing gets underway at 10 AM, so the cool of the morning will be mostly gone by the time this gets underway. Such are the compromises of trying to host a big meet on the Western Slope where many teams are traveling two or more hours to get there.
As usual, Michele Bisbee does the heavy lifting of Colorado Track XC coverage on the Western Slope.