Staff writer
When the pack of 46 competitors crested the opening hill in the varsity boys 5K cross- country race Thursday at Peabody, Marion High School Warrior runner Jordan Hett had already established himself as the leader. Teammate Patrick McCarty was only a few steps behind.
Hett never relinquished his lead, winning the event with a season-best time of 17 minutes, 6 seconds, 17 seconds faster than runner-up Hayden Bates of Clearwater. McCarty maintained his fast start as well, covering the course in 17:39 to finish third. It was McCarty’s fastest time this year as well.
Jacob Cope, 13th at 18:44, Clark Kroupa, 35th at 20:54, and Jarred Hague, 43rd at 23:17, each ran season-best times. Combined with Quinton Hett’s 40th place finish in 21:35, the Warrior boys claimed third place overall in the varsity competition, which was won by Hesston.
Nicholas Davies competed in the boys’ junior varsity division, running a season-best 28:42 and finishing 45th.
Marion had two competitors in the varsity girls’ division. Kaelyn Thierolf placed fourth with a time of 16:23, while Elizabeth Goentzel’s time of 20:11was good enough for 18th.
Garrett Alleven edged out two Halstead runners to win the seventh-grade boys’ 1600 meter run with a 5:35 mark.
In the 3200 meter eighth-grade races, Malachi Sippel took seventh place in the boys division in 14:47, while in the girls race Abby Kuster placed 10th, running the course in 17:05.
Marion will host a cross- country meet starting at 4 p.m. Thursday at Marion Country Club.