LANDER — The MVHS boys cross country team took first at the 3A West Conference meet last Friday, Oct. 14, in Lander, and even wrapped up the #1 spot in the race when Owen Burnett crossed the line with a time of 16:36.07.

Burnett has been a power for the Buffalos. He hails from Kemmerer and has ran for Mountain View for three years. Isaac Kiefer, MVHS head cross country coach, said Monday morning, “He (Burnett) is an exceptional talent and drives down from Kemmerer to train with the team, which requires a lot of devotion. Last Monday, he verbally committed to run track and XC for the University of Wyoming, which is a huge accomplishment.

“Wyoming's coach Dahlberg told me Owen was Wyoming's top recruit this year. He plans on studying medicine to become a doctor and is a great person in addition to a great runner,” Kiefer added.

MVHS is a little shy on girls for the team, but Kiefer is impressed with the caliber of the ones who do run. He said, “Although we don't have enough girls to field a scoring, team senior Natalee Rudy and junior Caprice Winn highlight the squad. Winn came home from Lander earning All-Conference honors, and Rudy was in the hunt for an All-Conference position until the last 400 meters of the race. Some of the younger girls on the team have also made huge improvements. It will be fun to watch Rudy and Winn hunt for All-State honors this weekend.”

This weekend proves to be the payoff for this year’s season as the MVHS Buffalos hit the course tomorrow at the state meet at Wyoming Indian High School at Ethete.

“I am excited for the opportunity to potentially repeat as 3A boys' state champions,” Kiefer said. “It certainly won't be easy as Worland, Evanston and Cody are determined to win a championship as well. I feel confident that we have more in the tank, and we always peak well during championship season, so I am really looking forward to this weekend. It really comes down to how much these boys want to hurt in order to win come Saturday,” Kiefer said.

The course records at Wyoming Indian were set earlier this year, when Wyoming Indian High School hosted the Chief Nations Invitational on Sept. 10. The girls’ course record is by Ryann Smith of Rawlins at 19:17.8. The boys’ record belongs to Owen Burnett of Mountain View. He ran the course in 16:11.5.

The 3A West region meet was held last week at the Lander Golf Club. When Mountain View took first they went head-to-head against Cody, Evanston, Green River, Lander, Lyman, Powell and Riverton. Mountain View took first in the boys' division with 45 points.

Cody won the girls' division with 35 points. Ameya Eddy from Lander (20:19.07) and Owen Burnett of Mountain View (16:36.07) won the individual races.

Other members of the Buffs who placed in the top seven of the boys team and will compete at the state meet follow:

8. Colt Henrie; 11. Cash Henrie; 12 Dash Madsen; 13. Aidan Salinas; 19. Isaac Tims; 22. Tayden Bell.