James Wins as Dogies Girls Take Second, Boys Finish Third at Wheatland
NEWCASTLE, Wyo. - LJ James won the varsity girls race to lead Newcastle High School to a second-place girls team finish Friday, Oct. 2, at Lewis Park in Wheatland. Christine Swentesky added a fifth-place finish, while Jaden McGuire placed 11th to lead the Dogies boys to third as a team in a preview of the conference meet in two weeks.
James maintained the lead despite a confusing course layout and difficult mapping, finishing in 20:57.20. Circumstances that left the Lady Dogies with little time to preview the route added to the challenge. Swentesky and several teammates took a wrong turn, but Swentesky still secured fifth in 22:39.50. The navigation difficulties slowed the girls’ times without keeping their top two runners from delivering strong finishes.
Cheyanne Bloom followed in 11th with a time of 24:58.50. Chanel Hanson finished 15th in 26:29.30, just ahead of Hollie Swentesky, who placed 16th in 26:46.30. Tacie Carter rounded out the varsity girls group in 17th at 28:03.10. Those contributions behind James and Christine Swentesky helped the Lady Dogies earn their runner-up team finish despite the course challenges.
The varsity boys stayed on course more successfully while working through injuries affecting the group. McGuire finished in 19:59.50, and Dylan Conley took 15th in 21:02.40. Lane Carter followed closely in 16th at 21:30.10. The Dogies continued to run together and push one another through the discomfort, making their pack effort a notable part of the third-place result.
Kendrick Blumenthal placed 18th in 22:44.60, with Lucas Scribner finishing 19th in 23:48.40 to complete the varsity boys results. In the junior varsity boys race, Leigh Beason earned fourth place in 27:57.50, giving the Dogies another top-five individual performance.
The trip gave Newcastle firsthand experience on the conference course, including the turns that proved costly for the girls. That familiarity provides a concrete focus for the return visit: navigating the route cleanly and improving on Friday’s times, while the boys work toward healthier races at conference and state. The Dogies will look to improve their times in their next contest Friday in Sundance and at the conference meet in two weeks back in Wheatland.
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