WORLAND - Coming off a solid outing at their home meet last Thursday at the Green Hills Golf Course, the Worland High School cross-country team has two weeks left in their regular season. With the days counting down there's very little time to waste because this is the point of the season where results weigh heavier and heavier with each passing race.

Warrior senior Porter Harman ran a 16:09.82 finishing first and winning the Worland Invitational for the second season in a row. Fellow Warrior teammate Nathaniel Nelson placed in the top 15 with a time of 18:01.14. Caleb Fraser was the Warriors third best runner on the day, finishing 22nd with a time of 18:41.52.

Lady Warrior Lindsey Holiday was the team's top runner in Worland and just missed the top 10, coming in 11th with a time of 21:33.51. Lindsey's sister, Kelli Holiday, finished 15th running a 21:33.51 and Hailee Hunter was 16th with a time of 21:36.53.

Heading into the race the focus for Worland was to improve on closing out the race strong, something WHS cross-country coach Tanya Kienlen thought they were able to accomplish.

"Worland is a great course, it's flat and fast and we can implement a little bit more with strategy as far as splits and things go. We worked on our finish and coming off our last 800 a little bit stronger. I thought they did a much better job with that," said Kienlen.

The Warriors and Lady Warriors have been making strides all season long by setting new personal records and working hard in practice. And over these final two weeks of the regular season, they're going to need to dig deeper and push themselves harder. The 3A field is incredibly tough this season and if both teams want to bring home postseason hardware that's what it's going to take.

The team ran for something bigger than themselves during the Worland Invite with their Run for Jaeden bracelets. Jaeden Jackson is a classmate who was diagnosed with cancer. Kienlen wants her team to continue to run for something bigger but also added a new mantra for her runners, "No eXCuses"

"Looking over the stats of all the teams 3A is extremely competitive from years past. Overall looking at how competitive and how everyone is becoming stronger and stronger, we need to continue to fight. So we've adopted and implemented it this week, 'No eXCuses.'

"You need to fight through no matter what, as we have with Jaeden's bracelet. Running for something bigger than yourself. We're improving and we're hitting PRs [personal records] but we're still not there, we have to do what it takes to be competitive," said Kienlen.

Right away, Kienlen noticed her runners taking to the new mantra. Monday's practice was cold and wet but her team still pushed through and turned in a good workout.

"We embrace the fall weather, it makes for faster times and we practiced in bad weather [Monday]. It's difficult because you have the wind and the rain, but again it goes back to no eXCuses. Everyone is running in these same conditions and we're going to possibly race in these conditions when we go to Cody. You have to embrace the moment and give everything you got," said Kienlen.

These final weeks of the regular season are also going to determine how the varsity rosters fill out. The Warriors especially with be tight internal competition as there are no secure spots.

"The boys team, as we near these last few weeks, I've talked with both the varsity and JV teams. I told them their varsity spot is not secure and I've had a lot of kids go back and forth. There's been urgency in practice and fighting for their spots and to prove their point to be on the state team in three weeks," said Kienlen.

Today Worland is in Cody for the Fox and the Hound race and unlike the usual cross-country race where every runner starts at the same time. The Fox and the Hound race starts with each team's seventh runner hitting the course first, 20 seconds later the sixth runner heads out, another 20 seconds the fifth runner, and so on until finally, the top runner goes.

Cody's race is a good change of pace for the Worland runners and one that will have them focusing more so on their race than worrying about pack times.

"This course is a bit different in that we're not looking at our pack time but this one is for yourself and maintaining your splits," said Kienlen. "It's going to be a nice change of pace and a fun approach to a new course. We need a good race and solid workout. As state approaches, we need to be consistent and regardless of the course the weather or where your teammates are, you have to run your race."

Kienlen, the whole Worland cross-country team and Worland Middle School cross-country program were very appreciative of those who ran in the Reachard Race. Money raised from the race goes to supporting both WHS and WMS cross-country programs.