Staff writer
Kaelyn Thierolf won the Class 3-2-1A sophomore girls race at the Hesston Swather Special Cross Country meet Thursday in Hesston.
The event is unique in that runners from Class 3-2-1A schools are in a separate division from larger schools, and runners compete only against others in their same grade level.
Thierolf’s winning time of 14 minutes, 48 seconds was only 16 seconds slower than the winning time in the Class 6-5-4A division. She finished 12 seconds ahead of her nearest competitor.
In the junior girls’ division, Lady Warrior Elizabeth Goentzel finished 17th, with a time of 19:02, and Jenevieve Corona placed 24th with a time of 19:55.
Overall, the Lady Warriors placed 13th as a team.
On the boys’ side, Jordan Hett led the way for the Warriors with a sixth place finish in the junior boys’ competition, with a time of 17:31. Additional Marion runners in this division included Patrick McCarty (10th, 17:55), Jacob Cope (16th, 18:51), and Clark Kroupa (46th, 22:19).
Jarred Hague ran 24:09 to finish 32nd in the sophomore race, and Quinton Hett place 18th in the freshman contest with a time of 21:16.
The Warriors finished 12th in the team standings for the Class 3-2-1A division.
ABilene Invitational
Sept. 1
High School Boys: 3. Jordan Hett, 16.42; 4. Patrick McCarty, 13.59; 9. Jacob Cope, 14.37; 28. Quinton Hett, 16.02; 33. Clark Kroupa, 16.20; 55. Jarred Hague, 18.46; 70. Nicholas Davies, 25.12).
High School Girls: 16. Elizabeth Goentzel, 15.38; 21. Jenevieve Corona, 16.46.
Middle School Boys: 3. Garrett Alleven, 5.27; 14. Malachi Sippel, 6.51.
Middle School Girls: 12. McKenzee Remmers, 7.24; 19. Abby Kuster, 8.09.