Sports editor
Marion High School cross country runners Ryan Jones and Louis Holt will be heading to the 1-4A state cross country meet Saturday at Wamego for the second year in a row.
This time however, they will have some company.
Camille Christensen, who finished seventh Saturday at the 3A Southeast of Saline regional, qualified as well with a 4k-time of 16 minutes, 59 seconds.
Jones finished fourth (18:17) in the boys’ 5k race and Holt (18:28) was seventh.
It is the senior Christensen’s second appearance at state after qualifying her sophomore year.
“Camille has had quite the season with having an injury and being sick,” MHS head coach Bethany Carlson said. “She is just now where she was at the beginning of the season.”
Jones and Holt have been the Marion boys’ team top-two runners all season, and that did not change Saturday.
“They stayed consistent this week, and it paid off,” Carlson said. “I am looking forward to watching them run at the challenging state course.”
As a team the boys placed fifth, with Andy Shipman finishing 31st behind Holt.
Michael Kirkpatrick (43rd) and Brandon Meierhoff (68th) rounded out the boys’ team qualifiers.
Philip Gu (73rd) and Max Wagner (86th) also competed in their final races for the Warriors.
The exchange students are in Marion only for the 2008-09 school year.
The duo will be the only two runners to graduate this season.
“We are a young team and I am excited about the possibilities for the team in the years to come,” Carlson said.
The MHS girls’ team was fourth, only one spot from qualifying for state, but also 85 points behind third-place Remington.
After Christensen, junior Jaclyn DeForest was the next Warrior runner, taking 18th-place with a time of 17:31, improving her time from last week by 16 seconds.
“Jaclyn had to step up this season and lead the team through much of the season,” Carlson said. “She did a great job and I look for her to be an even better runner and competitor next season.”
Senior Amanda Richmond finished her career by taking 40th place with a time of 18:48.
Richmond battled an illness all season, and cut nearly two minutes off her time from her first race back after being sick.
“She did end on a good note,” Carlson said.
Danae Edwards was fourth for Marion with a personal-best time of 19:25.
She too battled with injuries and illness this season.
“She competed hard and beat her personal record by 30 seconds,” Carlson said.
Jessie Taylor (58th) and Anna Lauring (59th) rounded out the girls’ team.
Overall, Calrson was pleased that her girls’ team competed hard.
Christensen knew there was no other choice if she wanted to make the state meet.
Carlson agreed.
“She knows how to be a competitor and get the job done,” she said. “Look for great things from her next week at state.”
Christensen will race at 9 a.m. at the Wamego Country Club, while the gun for Holt and Jones will fire at 10 a.m.
Race results:
SE of saline regional meet results
boys’ 5k
Ryan Jones – 18:17, fourth.*
Louis Holt – 18:28, seventh.*
Andy Shipman – 19:27, 31st.
Michael Kirkpatrick – 20:12, 43rd.
Brandon Meierhoff – 21:32, 68th.
Philip Gu – 22:01, 73rd.
Max Wagner – 23:11, 86th.
*Denotes medal
girls’ 4k
Camille Christensen – 16:59, seventh.*
Jaclyn DeForest – 17:31, 18th.
Amanda Richmond – 18:48, 40th.
Danae Edwards – 19:25@, 49th.
Jessie Taylor – 20:12, 58th.
Anna Laurin – 20:17, 59th.
*Denotes medal
@Denotes personal record