Rattler runners compete in season opener at Clovis

The first meet of the season for Tucumcari High School cross-country runners was a learning experience not just for its athletes, but the coach.

Virtually all of the Rattler runners this year are first-time participants in the sport. In addition, this is Tim Clark’s first time coaching such a team, replacing previous coach Gary Hittson after he became an assistant football coach.

The Clovis Invitational on Friday wasn’t a meet full of creampuffs, either.

“We were running against Carlsbad, Clovis, big schools ... and for our kids, it was their first experience running,” Clark said, “and it was my first experience. I didn’t know how it worked. It was very much a learning experience.

“I think the kids now, they know what it’s about. They were excited and had fun. There was teamwork, and they cheered each other on.”

The Tucumcari boys team also is a very young one, with four eighth-graders on the varsity roster.

The best-finishing Rattler was eighth-grader Creed Owen, who finished in the top 40 overall on the 3-mile course at Ned Houk Park in Clovis with a time of 25 minutes, 9 seconds.

Another Rattler eighth-grader, Logan Lafferty, ran in 28:26.

Lovington won the boys team title, and Hobbs finished runner-up.

The lone Tucumcari girl at the race, MiKayla Klinger, finished the course in over 40 minutes. Clark said she lost at least two minutes because a Clovis cheerleader mistakenly directed her the wrong way on a hilly part of the course.

“MiKayla is the first to admit she’s not a cross-country runner,” Clark said. “She’s doing cross country to get in shape for wrestling.”

Tucumcari’s next meet is Saturday morning at the Lovington Invitational.