Spartan cross country runner Scott Clark left his mark at the Patriot League Cross Country Championship at Platte Valley High School in Kersey on Oct. 5.

By Will Cornelius
The Surveyor

Berthoud High School junior Scott Clark took the lead early … and never looked back. Fortunately, if he had, there would have been a familiar face following closely behind like many other races over the past three years. On Oct. 5, Clark won the Patriot League Cross Country Championship at Platte Valley High School in Kersey and his teammate, senior Tate Bothun, finished three seconds behind for second place.

“I took the lead and I was worried that I would die with like one mile to go. But I’m just fitter than I think. Throughout the season just kind of pushing it, trying to test my fitness and it’s worked out beautifully,” said Clark after winning the race with a time of 16:26.41.

The demanding course was also mentally taxing for the Spartan runners. “That back stretch is all mental,” said Bothun who finished his race with a season-best time of 16:29.48. “Coming into that first lap, it was kind of a pretty relaxing first lap. Then our second lap, heading onto that backstretch was where I kind of fell off a little bit. That backstretch is hard, there’s nobody over there,” he added.

Knowing how important the mental aspect of distance running is, Clark kept pushing himself at the front of the race. “I was just trying to push the pace, kind of break the other guys. Because if they’re with you, they know they can pass you, so you got to really push it and kind of break them in that way. You could be hurting and they could pass you. But it’s up to them. You know, they just have to be mentally tough,” he explained.

In addition to Clark and Bothun capturing gold and silver, the rest of the varsity boys cross country team also excelled with four other harriers making the top ten. Sophomore Aiden Malherbe placed sixth (17:30.08), behind him was senior Afton Cooper in seventh (17:35.84), followed by sophomores Benjamin Clopper in ninth (17:47.88) and Eric Mellott in tenth (17:49.57). “I think we have a super good team this year,” Bothun said about regional and state races. “We have a chance to win I think,” added Clark.

In the girls race, senior Jayce Williams captured fourth with a season-best time of 19:11.25. Not far behind her was junior Sydney Slauson who placed tenth, running the course in 20:00.69.

Next up for the Berthoud cross country teams are regionals at Monfort Park in Greeley on Oct. 19. “This season has just been a miracle and I couldn’t be happier,” said Clark in reflection of his season so far.