Home

Steamboat Springs — Matt Reinhold is doing everything he can to immerse the Steamboat Springs cross country team in the culture of running.

From Saturday screenings of classic movies about running to updates on the World Outdoor Track & Field Championships, Reinhold, the Sailors' new 23-year-old head coach, is tapping all motivational resources, hoping to bring the team "into the running community."

But a lot of what the four-time All-Conference cross country and track athlete from NCAA Division II Clarion University of Pennsylvania has been preaching lately has much to do with just getting in those hard-earned miles.

Since Aug. 13, the Sailors have worked toward an average of 40 miles a week. Reinhold is pleased with what he has seen from the 20 boys and girls this year. He expects to field two competitive teams.

"The team is looking strong," Reinhold said. "When I first came in, people told me Steamboat wouldn't be all that competitive, but I think it's the complete opposite."

The Steamboat boys team returns four members - Charlie Stoddard, Sam Chovan, T.J. Anderson and Cam Niswander - from the squad that qualified for the Oct. 28 Class 4A State Cross Country Championships. Reinhold also noted expected contributions from Wiley Thayer and Garret Ehrick.

"On the guys side, we're really, really deep," Reinhold said. "With us gaining the freshmen we did, plus the Nordic combined kids we have out, we're in strong contention for a top-three district finish. Our goal this year is to send the girls and the guys teams to state."

Although the girls team narrowly missed that goal last season - finishing fifth at regionals - it returns plenty of talent this season. Atop that list is junior Brittany Long, who finished 12th at regionals as Steamboat's lone individual state qualifier. A promising collection of runners such as Katherine Lynch, Alyssa Walter, Cameron Osteen and Jamie Winter will round out the girls squad.

Steamboat opens its season Saturday at Howelsen Hill with its only home meet.

"I really want to see the team running together, cheering each other on and getting a feel of working together as a team," Reinhold said of the meet that will include teams from Summit, Regis and Middle Park.

The girls teams start at 9:30 a.m. at the Howelsen yurt, running two laps on a 3.1-mile course that wraps up the Bluffs Loop, around Simillion Field and finishes at the Howelsen Hill Lodge. The boys run the same course, starting at 10:15 a.m.

- To reach Dave Shively, call 871-4253

or e-mail dshively@steamboatpilot.com