Marion High School cross-country team earned nine medals Thursday after competing at the Hesston invitational. There were eight races between the boys and girls — one per class.
Jordan Hett was the top Warrior boys’ finisher, taking first in the 5-kilometer with a time of 18 minutes, eight seconds.
“He ran a solid race,” MHS head coach Bethany Carlson said.
Spachek, running the freshmen 4K, came in at 17:47. She, with senior Jaclyn DeForest, helped the team improve by eight spots from last year at Hesston. DeForest ran the race at 18:02 and took sixth. As a team, they took eighth out of 19 teams.
Freshman Elizabeth Goentzel earned a medal coming in at 14th, and sophomore Jessie Taylor brought home hardware with a 20th-place finish.
Ryan Jones, a junior leader on the boys’ squad, was fourth with a time of 17:44.
“Ryan ran a great race,” Carlson said. “He got out and ran faster than usual and set a personal record.”
Patrick McCarty also finished in the top-10 in the freshman race with a time of 21:04. Jacob Cope earned an 11th-place medal in the same race, and junior Brandon Meierhoff had the team’s final medal, taking 16th.
Overall, the boys’ team took third. Carlson said it was the best finish for the boys at Hesston in the past five years. The Warriors edged out Sterling by one point, and were 16 points behind champion Berean Academy.
“We were thrilled to bring home a plaque,” Carlson said. “This gives our boys’ team confidence as we compete at the next meet.”
MHS will compete Thursday at Peabody. Junior varsity and varsity races will be run at Topham Family Farm.
“This will be a great meet,” Carlson said. “There will be several teams competing.”
BOYS’ RESULTS
TEAMS: 1. Berean Academy 25; 2. Bennington 29; 3. Marion 41; 4. Sterling 42; 5. Minneapolis 53; 5. Hutch Trinity 53; 5. Peabody-Burns 53; 8. Sunrise Christian 55; 9. Ellsworth 73; 10. Halstead 76; 20. Sedgwick 175.
Freshmen
Jordan Hett – first place*, 18:08@
Patrick McCarty – ninth*, 21:04@
Jacob Cope – 11th*, 21:11.
Nicholas Davies – 38th, 31:28@
Sophomores
Brandon Meierhoff – 16th*, 20:39
Juniors
Ryan Jones – fourth*, 17:44@
Michael Kirkpatrick – 26th, 21:19
Derek Stuchlik – 33rd, 22:27.
Seniors
Max Heinemann – 38th, 31:28@
GIRLS’ RESULTS
Teams: 1. Collegiate 6; 2. Ellinwood 9; 3. Burrton 10; 4. Bennington 11; 5. Minneapolis 13; 6. Salina Sacred Heart 16; 7. Douglass 18; 8. Marion 24; 19. Tescott 67.
Freshmen
Monica Spachek – fourth place*, 14:47
Elizabeth Goentzel – 14th*, 18:52
Cassandra McPhail – 24th, 22:00
Sophomores
Jessie Taylor – 20th*, 20:52
Seniors
Jaclyn DeForest – sixth*, 18:02
* Denotes medal
@ Denotes personal record