Mallo Camp meet remains a cross-country classic

High school cross-country season opened in a familiar way last week, with Newcastle hosting its annual meet at Mallo Camp north of town, where runners tested themselves against one of Wyoming’s most rugged 5K courses. Set in the Black Hills along the Wyoming–South Dakota border, the course has become a point of pride for Newcastle High School, which has used it to launch its season for decades.

“It is maybe one of the last true cross-country courses left,” coach Kathy Beehler said. 

The course takes runners through the forest, up and down steep hills, and ends with a splash, as competitors must cross Beaver Creek just before the finish line. 

“Everything else is on a golf course or something flat, and they really like the ruggedness of our trail and the water and all of that,” Beehler said.

While the field of teams was smaller this year due to confusion over the meet date, those who came appreciated the challenge and tradition of Mallo. 

“It was a good meet,” Beehler said, though she admitted she was “a little disappointed that we didn’t have as many teams as we always have.” She added that no South Dakota schools made the trip this year, but she expects they’ll return next fall.

On the boys’ side, Newcastle senior Sam Cunningham made the most of the home-course advantage, winning the meet in 17 minutes, 24 seconds. Teammate Archer Ohnstad was close behind, taking fourth in 19:45. Lucas Scribner (22:25) and Jaden McGuire (22:30) crossed just seconds apart in 12th and 13th, while Kendrick Blumenthal (24:36) and Lane Carter (28:36) rounded out the squad.

“Archer and Sam both had great meets and set themselves up for a good season,” Beehler said. “I saw all of our kids run well. It is early in the year, and they haven’t been practicing and training for long, so each week we will get better.”

The Dogies also fielded a full girls team, something that thrilled Beehler. 

“It was super exciting to have a girls team,” she said. 

Sophomore Liliana Cunningham led the way with an 11th-place finish in 27:41, followed by junior Hollie Swentesky in 28:39. With several runners training together and learning to pace as a group, Beehler expects improvement as the season unfolds. 

“They are actually running in a group in practice,” she said. “I think you will see them run really tight in the next three or four weeks.”

Newcastle wasn’t at full strength, with a few sick athletes missing, but Beehler said they should return this week when the Dogies travel to Spearfish. 

“That is always a good course and a good meet, and we will see some of those South Dakota schools,” she said.

For Beehler, cross-country is about more than just race times and placings. She said her runners embrace the extra team-bonding activities that come with the season, from a preseason trek to Harney Peak to a planned trip to Devil’s Bathtub after this Friday’s meet. 

“They just do a really good job of team bonding, and enjoy each others’ company,” she said. “They just form into more of a family each week.”