A year after Bradley Conrado gave the Meeker boys cross country team a taste of the state championship stage, the Cowboys enter the 2026 season looking to turn that individual success into greater success as a team.

Meeker will open its season Aug. 22 in Grand Junction, where Head Coach Marty Casey will get the first opportunity to see how a summer of training translates to competition.

The Cowboys have seven boys and two girls competing this season, giving Meeker a core group to build around as the season gets underway.

“We have a core group of the boys that have been running all summer, and everyone seems excited for the season,” Casey said.

The girls team returns Abi Amick, who is continuing to work her way into shape, while Tinlie Strate is beginning her first season of cross country after competing in track and field during the spring.

“Abi Amick is back this year, and still getting in shape,” Casey said. “Tinlie Strate is new to cross country, and still recovering from injuries during the spring track season, so we are trying to ease her into the sport.”

The Cowboys finished last season with a strong push late in the year, particularly as runners began working together and improving their pack running. Casey said that progress is something she wants to see continue this season.

“The boys were competing well as a team late in the season last year, and I am expecting more of the same,” Casey said.

While individual performances will remain important, Casey said the team is focused on competing together and building toward team success.

“I think the boys really want that success as a team, and are committed to the work,” she said.

Conrado, now a junior, returns after qualifying for the Colorado 2A State Championships last season. He placed 89th at state with a time of 19 minutes, 12 seconds, gaining his first experience competing against some of the state’s top runners.

That experience could be valuable as Conrado enters his third high school cross country season.

“Bradley has said that he feels like he is in better shape than at this point last year,” Casey said. “That, as well as the experience gained at the state competition, should bode well for the season.”

Conrado will also have teammates pushing him throughout the season as the Cowboys look to improve their pack running.

“We were getting better at pack running late in the season, and I would like to see more of that,” Casey said.

Two sophomores could also play larger roles for Meeker this season. Landon Damitz returns after a promising freshman season, while Jackson Steele enters the season after putting in additional miles during the summer.

“Landon was running well last year, and seems hungry for more,” Casey said. “Jackson has put in some good miles this summer, and appears ready to step up.”

The first meet will provide an early measuring stick for the Cowboys. The boys are familiar with the Grand Junction course after competing there last year, allowing Casey to focus on how their fitness compares with where they were a year ago.

“The boys know the course from last year, and I am primarily interested to see how their fitness level compares,” Casey said.

The meet will also give Meeker’s girls a chance to experience a new course and begin establishing their own identity for the season.

“This will be a new course for the girls, and it will be fun to see what they think of it,” Casey said.

With summer training in the books and the first race approaching, the Cowboys are hoping their work over the past several months will translate into stronger performances and, ultimately, the team success they are chasing.

The first test comes Aug. 22 in Grand Junction.

Bradley Conrado leads the pack during a home cross country meet last season, with teammate Ryan Hanberg running close behind. Both runners return for the Cowboys this season as Meeker looks to build on last year’s success. Jared Henderson PHOTO