Tigers join field at Jayhawk-Linn; girls third

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

MOUND CITY -- Fort Scott High's cross-country team joined the crowd at the make-up of Jayhawk-Linn's invitational meet here Monday.

Jayhawk-Linn was set to host this meet Thursday with Pleasanton participating while Fort Scott was originally scheduled to be at Independence that day. Rain made the courses at both sites unsafe for the runners. Independence chose not to reschedule its meet so Fort Scott joined this meet.

In a similar situation a week earlier, Fort Scott's teams moved from a cancelled meet at Pittsburg to one at Central Heights on the same day.

Fort Scott head coach Tracey Bogina moved a few of her girls up to varsity and the Tigers took third place in the field of four complete teams with 60 points. Freeman (Mo.)--Cass-Midway was the winner with 24 points followed by Girard with 35. Central Heights finished fourth with 106.

Jayhawk-Linn's Meriel Long was the area's high finisher in the girls' varsity 4-kilometer run, finishing third in 16 minutes, 19 seconds. Mackenzie Weis of Cass-Midway was the winner in 15:17 with Michaela Baurer of Girard second in 16:17. Long was the Jayhawks' only runner in this race.

Jenna Harper placed 13th for Fort Scott in 18:08 with teammate Morgan Tourtillott in 14th in 18:20. Leah Cassleman finished 29th in 19:08, Megan Midkiff 25th in 19:43, Shelby Fleming 26th in 19:54 and Katelyn Torres 29th in 20:22.

Bogina's son, Austin of Northeast-Arma, was the winner of the 5K boys' varsity run in 16:17. The highest area finisher was Jayhawk-Linn's Mason Craig in 11th in 18:01. Lane Harris was 13th in 18:21 with Tony Rockers 37th in 21:20 and Dylan Stanley 38th in 22:30.

For the Tigers, Robert Sellers was the best finisher with an 18:32 for 14th place. Charlie Sercer was Fort Scott's other entrant with a 19:30 for 29th.

Pleasanton didn't have any entries in the varsity races but saw its leaders in the JV races set personal bests. Dylan Ellis had the high finish of area runners in the JV boys' race with a personal-best time of 20:23 for sixth place.

For the Tigers in that race, Colton Ballou finished 12th in 20:51, Austin Sather 17th in 21:07, Anthony Sercer 23rd in 22:15 and Alex Ho 28th in 22:44.

Pleasanton's Hannah Streeter set a school record for freshmen in the girls' JV race. She finished fifth in 19:52. Harley Fletcher was eighth in 20:21, Lindsey Conn 14th in 21:47 and Jonnnea Saulsberry 16th in 22 minutes even.

For the Tigers, Autumn Owenby finished 12th in 21:03 and Hannah Fredericksen was 17th in 22:04.

Pleasanton Junior High also had runners in the seventh- and eighth-grade races. Savannah Reynolds placed 4th in the seventh-grade 1-mile run in 7:33. Savannah Smith finished second and set a school record in the 2-mile eighth-grade race in 14:58. Erin Newell was third in a personal-best 15:09 and Autumn Secrest was ninth in a personal-best 17:23.

Each school will be at different venues Thursday. The Tigers will be at the Southeast Kansas League Meet in Chanute, the Jayhawks will attend the Pioneer League Meet and the Blu-Jays will be at Burlington.

NOTES -- Regional assignments have been released. Fort Scott will be competing at the El Dorado Class 4A Regional Meet at El Dorado Lake. Jayhawk-Linn will host a Class 2A Regional at Sugar Valley. Pleasanton has been assigned to the Udall Class 1A Meet, which will be held at Cessna Activity Center in Wichita....