Marion girls win,
boys take 3rd at home
Staff writers
All county cross country teams ran during Marion’s home meet Thursday at Big M field, with the Warriors boys’ and girls’ teams leading the charge.
Marion’s girls’ team finished first of five teams with 38 points. The boys’ team placed third among 10 teams with 94 points.
“This is the first time in a very long time that we [girls’ team] have taken home first at our home meet,” coach Jason Hett said. “I am very proud of this group.”
Dylan Kraus continued her strong start this season with a first place finish individually. Her time of 19 minutes 48.79 seconds also was good for the third-fastest in program history.
Hett said Kraus’ splits in the second and third miles had been her biggest improvements.
“We will continue to work on that turnover speed, but she is very coachable and willing to learn,” he said.
Brooklyn Beery took ninth, Jessica Methvin placed 12th, and Allyson Vogel finished in 17th to round out the Warrior girls’ placements.
On the boys’ side, Zayden Janzen placed fifth, Landon Levis sixth, and Josh Smith ninth, leading the boys to finish third as a team.
Hett said Janzen had been the team’s quiet leader throughout the season, while Levis and Smith had made strides from past seasons.
The Warriors will continue their season when they travel Thursday to Halstead’s Riverside Park.
Hillsboro
Hillsboro’s boys’ and girls’ teams both placed fifth Thursday in Marion.
Riley Richert led the girls’ team with a third-place finish, while Joseph Kelley finished 10th on the boys’ side.
The Trojans will continue their season Thursday at Berean Academy.
Goessel
The Bluebirds earned fifth place as a team at the Marion meet.
Rosie Gaeddert paced the Goessel girls’ team with a 19th-place finish in a field of 51 runners. Freshman Mia Hiebert captured 21st place, and Madelyn Olson finished in 24th.
Instead of competing in Marion’s meet, Eli Gaeddert ran Saturday during the Rim Rock Farm High School Cross Country Classic. He finished 11th out of the 197 competitors in the “gold” division.
Goessel will compete Thursday at a meet at Harvey County East Lake.
Centre
The Cougars had two runners in the boys’ 5-kilometer Thursday at Marion.
Aaron Carlson placed 69th, and Jason Leach placed 80th.
Centre will travel for its next meet Thursday in Halstead.