Recent Clarion-Limestone Graduate Morgan McNaughton Finishes Second In 2022 All Out Summer Breeze 10K In Colorado
(Thanks to the McNaughtons for the images)
Recent Clarion-Limestone graduate, Morgan McNaughton who will be running track and cross country at Division I St. Francis University in Loretto, finished second in the Summer Breeze 10K in Arvada Colorado in suburban Denver, on Saturday, June 25th.
The 10K was one of several races on the day, with a One Mile, 5K and Half-Marathon also being contested on the Van Bibber Creek Trail, at the Stenger Soccer Complex.
Though the course had a fairly level grade, the course elevation ranged from 5390 feet to 5545 feet, making it a real challenge, due to oxygen demands on the lungs and muscles.
There were forty-three female runners in the 10K. Morgan’s second place time was 47:27. And for comparison, to show the difference the high altitude makes, Morgan’s personal best in the Autumn Leaf Festival 10K is 42:40.
Morgan said, “The course was relatively flat, but the fact that we were a mile high in elevation definitely challenged my physical and mental strength.”
Morgan finished twenty-nine seconds behind the First Place runner Adriana Vegas, who ran a 46:58.
The looping course is set up such that the runners pass each other several times. Morgan shared this about passing Vegas (and other runners) on the course, “I was watching her the whole time, but every-time we would loop around and saw each other we said ‘HI’ and ‘Good job.’ That was the hardest part: saying ‘HI’ and ‘Good job’ to the people as they passed haha. Everyone was so sweet, but I definitely wouldn’t have done as well without my dad and my best friend Jess who cheered me on.”
(Morgan’s coaches at Clarion-Limestone are Nicole Oakes Cross Country and Track Head Coach and Assistant Cross Country Coaches Erin Hepfl and Kelsey Makin.)
Congratulations, Morgan!!!!
Link to video of Morgan’s second place finish below:
https://www.facebook.com/100029279133147/videos/pcb.824866385165992/372672994765028
