(Peru, Neb.) – As their season was already over, the Peru State College (PSC) cross country team participated in a different type of race by participating in the Crystal City Cave Run in November.
 
According to Bobcat Tesla Oldfield (Nebraska City), “I thought the cave run was a great experience.  It was tough, but it was the best workout I have done.  I think sand is an excellent way to train.  It was a lot of fun.”
 
If you read Oldfield's comments, you noted the race was run in sand.  A group called the “Motley Crew Vault Club” came up with the idea to host a 5K run in order to purchase equipment for their pole vault club.  They knew they wanted to do something unique and boy, did they.   The Motley Crew discovered the Crystal City Underground and asked to run a race through the former sand mine.  The owners said yes.
 
The race is run underground.  The 5K starts about 1,000 feet in front of a rock tunnel and crosses an old railroad bridge.  From the end of the tunnel, it is approximately 200 feet to the entrance of the mine.  Once inside, runners run clockwise past underground lakes, over sand dunes, under an airshaft (supposedly Wilfred the bat inhabits the place when he is in the area), and then through some ankle-deep puddles and quicksand-like areas. 
 
The first lap then turns before reaching the finish line and runners go back into the mine entrance for a second lap.  At the end of the second lap, runners continue straight to the finish line.  One Bobcat runner, Kesha Beethe (Tecumseh) and cross country coach, Dr. Johann Murray, received medals for their efforts in their respective age groups.  Beethe finished fourth in the 20-24 age group in a time of 32:16.97.  Oldfield finished eighth in the same group in 35:31.32 while Danielle Prchal (Omaha) was ninth in 35:31.57.  Samantha Walker (Peyton, Colo.) was 12^th in 38:25.61.
 
Cassandra Leonard (Reynolds) was 12^th in the 14-19 age group at 30:53.01 with Danielle Aldrich (Daykin) was 17^th in 35:32.01. 
 
Coach Murray won the 55-59 year age group completing the course in 25:21.94.  Murray noted, “I was surprised with my age group win, but pleased.” As to the race, Murray added, “Most of the girls really liked the race because it was challenging and in a controlled environment free from the wind (and it was windy at a steady 15 miles per hour outside) and free from the cold since it was about 60 degrees in the cave. Kesha  told me she loved the run so much that she thinks we should bring in some sand to PSC and have a little sand course to train on.”
 
Since Murray has coached the team, at the conclusion of each season, the team has participated in some type of special run.  Previously, the Bobcats have run in the Living History Race in Des Moines.