CMC Distance Carnival

"Hey, everyone was invited!"

Colorado Mountain College hosted its first-ever track meet at its Salida Campus this past Friday. The CMC Twilight Distance Carnival featured races of 1500 meters, 5K and 800 meters.

Several small college teams were invited, and the meet was also open to unattached runners as well. Since Harrison graduated from the college in 2024 he signed up as an “unattached CMC alumni” for the 5K, which is 12.5 laps on the track.

Colleges turning out for the low-key inaugural event included CMC, Central Wyoming, and Trinidad State Junior College.

Harrison had not run in a college track meet in two years. He hadn’t done much speed work in recent weeks either. When he stepped out onto the track, it was just him, Central Wyoming’s Henry Nava, and our friend Justin Walker from Salida in the 5K. As our friend Curtis used to say, “Hey, everyone was invited!”

Before the race I told Harrison to hang with Henry for a few laps to keep from going out too fast. This perhaps led to a coaching error on my part. Realizing that Harrison was chopping his stride to not pass Henry, I told him to take the lead 4.5 laps in, but he didn’t hear me, and around they went again. He finally left Henry on the sixth lap but it had already cost him some time. I probably should have had him go after two laps. Oh well.

Harrison ended up winning the 5K by more than 200 meters in 18:15, but he likely would have run a solid 17-something if he’d made a move earlier.

Coaches were enthusiastic about the track meet and hopefully this distance carnival will become an annual event.

Meanwhile we are nearing our 100th chapter in The Blur Goes to College, and ramping up for the final push to the finish expected this spring. If you haven’t checked it out, or want to catch up, click on the link.