Warriors will compete at Abilene Country Club
Sports editor
The Marion High School cross country team will be on a golf course Thursday, but their “scores” will resemble nothing of that on a golf scorecard.
Instead, the athletes will be running up and down hills at the Abilene Country Club, home of the Abilene Cowboys, trying to start the new year with their best times.
Fourth-year coach Bethany Carlson has her varsity team set in place for Abilene.
The competing runners earned a spot by finishing in the top-seven during pre-season time trials. The varsity runners from this point forward will be determined by their performance at each meet, according to Carlson.
It was no surprise seniors Camille Christensen and Amanda Richmond will run 1-2 for the girls’ squad.
“They have shown great leadership thus far,” Carlson said.
The other five spots will be occupied by juniors Jaclyn DeForest, Bridget Lundy, Anna Laurin, Danae Edwards, and freshman Jessie Taylor.
Freshman Taylor Harms will run for the junior varsity squad.
Junior and 2007 state qualifier Ryan Jones will be the top runner for the Warriors Thursday, finishing with the best time at time trials.
It was a bit of a surprise however that newcomer Andy Shipman finished second in the time trials and sophomore Brandon Meierhoff was third.
2007 state-qualifier Louis Holt was right behind Meierhoff for fourth, and Carlson was happy to see the progress from Shipman and Meierhoff, and expects Holt to be toward the top as the season progresses.
“I’m sure when it comes to meets, these positions will interchange throughout the season,” she said.
Sophomore Michael Kirkpatrick and exchange students Phillip Gu and Max Wagner round out the varsity team.
Sophomores Derek Stuchlik and Adam Molleker will run for the JV team, as will injured harrier, sophomore Galen Funk.
“It seems like a few of our runners have been struggling with an injury,” Carlson said. “We hope to get everyone healthy and ready for the season. If not, our JV runners will have to come prepared each meet to run varsity.”
Race times are set with the girls taking off at 4:30 p.m., and the boys 5 p.m.