Adventures of Louis and Ryan begin
Both teams take sixth
Sports reporter
In a regional that included several top-five teams in both the girls' and boys' races, Ryan Jones and Louis Holt were the two Marion High School runners to qualify for the state meet.
The race will begin at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Wamego.
"Ryan and Louis ran excellent races," head coach Bethany Carlson said. "They both ran personal records and persevered through the race."
Jones finished the 5K-race in 18 minutes, 11 seconds to take eighth place. Holt, who finished 11th and was the final individual qualifier, registered a time of 18:25.
"It's exciting to go there," Jones said of the state meet.
Both runners were near the top-20 last year, but fell just short of qualifying.
As a team the boys were sixth, with Elliot Hett (19:59) the next MHS finisher in 42nd place.
Brady Hudson (20:19, 50th), Brandon Meierhoff (21:13, 60th), Corey Seacat, (21:15, 62nd), and Isaac Hett (21:31, 63rd) rounded out the boys' finishers.
"We knew it would be tough to have our boys' team make it to state," Carlson said of the stiff competition. "Overall we were hoping for a better team placing. We are a young team, and I look for us to get better."
So young in fact, the team won't graduate any seniors, and Holt and Jones will be back for two more years.
Holt is glad for the opportunity but is treating it like any other race by preparing as he always does.
"It's real hilly. It's a tough course," he said.
The girls' team took sixth place as well, but failed to qualify any individuals for the state meet.
Camille Christensen, who nearly medaled at state last year, just missed another trip back, finishing 17th.
"It was disappointing for Camille not to make it," Carlson said. "She had a great season as she struggled through the summer and season with leg soreness."
The lone senior on the squad, Tacy Taylor, said she was disappointed with her 39th-place finish, but was glad she decided to come out for the team after not running her freshman season.
She finished the season with a total of four medals.
"Tacy is a runner with a hard work ethic," Carlson said. "She did a great job being our senior leader and cheerleader this season."
Junior Amanda Richmond was next behind Christensen with a 25th-place finish and a 4K-time of 17:50.
Jaclyn DeForest was the final girls' runner in the top-30 with a time of 17:58.
Carlson said she wouldn't be surprised if the qualifiers from El Dorado fare well at the state meet this weekend. She also won't be surprised if the returners on her team help make MHS a team to beat next season.
"We have a young team and a lot of possibilities," she said. "I really feel that several individuals learned that putting out more effort during the summer and season will pay off."
Results:
girls (4K, 84 runners)
1. Belle Plaine 64. 2. Remington 67. 3. Trinity Academy 91. 4. SE of Saline 101. 5. Medicine Lodge 117. 6. Marion 147. 7. Sedgwick 166. 8. Independent 207. 9. Garden Plain 241. 10. Hutch Trinity 242. 11. Halstead 252. 12. Hillsboro 304.
Camille Christensen - 17:21, 17th.
Amanda Richmond - 17:50, 25th.
Jaclyn DeForest - 17:58, 25th.
Tacy Taylor - 18:37, 39th.
Brooke Johnson - 18:46, 41st.
Bridget Lundy - 19:23, 53rd.
Lucy Collett - 20:18, 71st.
boys (5K, 85 runners)
1. Trinity Academy 51. 2. SE of Saline 107. 3. Hillsboro 109. 4. Sedgwick 125. 5. Hutch Trinity 167. 6. Marion 171. 7. Belle Plaine 174. 8. Halstead 185. 9. Remington 209. 10. Independent 219. 11. Wichita Collegiate 222. 12. Medicine Lodge 229. 13. Bluestem 344.
Ryan Jones - 18:11, eighth.*#
Louis Holt - 18:25, 11th.*#
Elliot Hett - 19:59, 42nd.
Brady Hudson - 20:19, 50th.
Brandon Meierhoff - 21:13, 60th.
Corey Seacat - 21:15, 62nd.
Isaac Hett - 21:31, 63rd.
*Denotes medal
#Denotes personal record
