Returning to the D’Evelyn Dash for the first time is several years, the East Angels opened up the 2019 cross country season on the rolling, mostly dirt course in southwest Denver.

At D’Evelyn, all competitors race together rather than separating into Varsity and Open divisions. The boys took to the course first on a sunny morning with temperature still cool enough in the morning for good racing. Depleted of their top-3 runners from the Time Trial due to SAT Subject Exam testing, the Angels were led by sophomore Eamon Nussbaumin 30^thplace in 18:46. Nussbaum was followed by senior Jack Beardsheer who finished 39^thof 201 runners in 19:09, and the rest of the scoring 5 runners for East included junior Xander Pacini (42^nd, 19:15), sophomore David Anderson (45^th, 19:18), and senior Otto Kaffman (46^th, 19:20) – making his debut race in cross country for the Angels. With a total of 201 points, East finished 8^thof 11 teams. Among others making their debut for the Angels were ninth graders Ian Logan (58^th, 19:42), Benjamin Hopper (91^st, 20:53), Corbin Hobert (107^th, 21:20), Charles Keglovitz (121^st, 21:51), and Ethan Burk (137^th, 22:40).

The girls’ team, racing at nearly full strength, raced to its first championship of the season besting the 10 other teams in Division 1 competition. The Angels were led by junior Laura Romero, who opener her season finishing 2^ndof 219 runners, and nearly 30 seconds ahead of the third-place finisher. Juniors Julia Schor(20:40) and Maya Winfield(20:47) and senior Anna Buddenhagen(20:51) joined Romero in the top-10 – finishing 6^th, 7^thand 9^threspectively. Junior Lilia Scudamoreraced to a 15^thplace finish in 21:29 to complete the scoring for the Angels with just a 39-point total – 14 points ahead of host D’Evelyn with 53 points. Juniors Grace O’Meara(25^th, 21:58), Abigael Howard(26^th, 22:16), Maya Nussbaumer(27^th, 22:27) and AlanaMarie Barros(38^th, 22:57) also demonstrated great early season fitness. Impressing the team with their first races as Angels were sophomore Naomi Fry(39^th, 23:16) and ninth graders Sophia Charles(40^th, 23:18) and Bri O’Meara(41^st, 23:19).

Next week the East High Angels will split the team and compete on Friday at both the Washington Park Invitational hosted by Denver South and at the Arapahoe Warrior Invitational at deKoevend Park.