Harrisonville’s Korolev wins Rim Rock race

LAWRENCE | There are many challenges awaiting runners in the Rim Rock Farm High School XC Classic.

First, there’s the intimidating size of the pack, a multitude of runners all approaching the first upward climb near the starting line. Then, runners encounter the reason why this course is so notorious — the muddy terrain that seems to hit one incline after another and the final stretch that runs through a covered bridge and leads to the aptly-named Cemetery Hill. Where some runners’ dreams go to die.

But none of that bothered Harrisonville senior Maksim Korolev. No, his biggest challenge Saturday was chasing his own shadow — his only companion while winning the 5-kilometer race in 15 minutes, 40.21 seconds.

“It was pretty difficult in the sense that I was running by myself,” Korolev said. “The first two miles I felt pretty good and I was pushing myself pretty well but the third mile was pretty hilly … I was trying to find motivation and it was hard to do it because nobody was around me and it’s a pretty tough part of the course.”

The top boys’ division, known as the gold, pits some of the biggest schools and best runners around Kansas City, St. Louis and beyond against each other. So for Korolev, a first-time Rim Rock participant, to dominate the 207-runner race only adds to his legend.

He already stands out in a crowd — it’s hard not to notice this 6-foot gangly kid with the emo haircut — but on Saturday, Korolev was the center of attention. Around almost every turn coaches, onlookers and fellow runners yelled his name — knowing Korolev for his past exploits as former state and KC Metro Race champion.

Korolev says he’s oblivious to his surroundings while running, so he did not hear the cheering and chanting and the tribal drumbeat echoing throughout the course. So while winning by more than 18 seconds, Korolev was alone with his thoughts, pretending to have an opponent on his heels.

“I was thinking of them catching up to me (and thinking) ‘OK, I need to do this,’ ” Korolev said. “Even if I’m by myself, I’ve got to push myself.”

In the overall boys’ gold division standings, the Liberty Blue Jays won by placing three runners in the top 20 (Hossam Hassan, Matt Armstrong and Troy Smith). Liberty has won all three meets it has entered this season.

“This team seems like they’re just hungry,” Liberty boys cross country coach Robert Marquardt said. “They get after it.”

The Kearney girls topped the competition in the crimson race, the middle division, while the Platte County boys and girls won their respective blue division races that traditionally welcomes smaller-class teams.

“All week, they were talking about ‘Let’s get No. 1!’ ” said Platte County junior Zach Gifford, who led his team by finishing 13th overall. “We’re pushing each other. You’ve got to work harder to get what you want.”

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submitted by CANDACE BUCKNER - 2009-09-26 21:57:01

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