SOUTH FORK—On Tuesday, Oct. 3, the Rio Grande Club & Resort in South Fork hosted runners from nine southern Colorado schools in the annual Del Norte Cross-Country Invitational. This marks the seventh year the resort has hosted the event.
More than 30 high school students and 60 middle schoolers competed this year. High school students ran three miles, while the younger students ran 1.5 miles along the golf course’s back nine holes, where dramatic elevational changes make for a tough run, says Laura Haefeli, head coach of the Del Norte cross-country track team. “But the course is just so gorgeous, that’s what everyone loves about it.”
Though there are many great trails around the San Luis Valley where the invitational could be held, the mountain and river golf course offers stunning scenery and the necessary facilities for students to use. “I am incredibly thankful they let us use the course,” Haefeli says, 
Schools represented in the invitational included Monte Vista, Centennial, Moffat, Sangre de Cristo, Lake City and Antonito.
Sargent Senior High School placed first in the high school boys team division, while Del Norte High School won first for the girl’s high school team. Individual winners included Nigel Cortright from Sargent Senior High School; Emilee Haefeli from Del Norte High School; Santiago Trujillo from Alamosa for the middle school boys and Sarah DeLaCerda from Alamosa for the middle school girls.