Fall sports notebook: No letup in training for Rockhurst runners

Source: The Star

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Across the state, this week in cross country symbolizes the beginning of the final push. Most teams will compete in conference meets, which will be followed by districts, then, in some cases sectionals and subsequently the state championships.

So now begins the fun part. Well, not if you’re training as a Rockhurst runner.

“We’ve got some pretty hard workouts for the next two weeks,” Hawklets coach Michael Dierks said.

Rockhurst, an independent team without a conference, is fresh off its second-place team finish in the KC Metro Championships last Saturday at the Raymore-Peculiar course where four Hawklets finished in the top 20. So, as the Hawklets focus on districts, Dierks plans to push his team so that it can compete with favorites Lee’s Summit West, Lee’s Summit North and Blue Springs.

“We have great competition in district,” Dierks said. “You might have the state champion in this area.”

•The Raymore-Peculiar girls’ cross country team finished fifth in the KC Metro partly because top runner, sophomore Courtney Dickerson, suffered a sprained ankle during the race and did not finish.

According to coach Jay Johnson, although the Metro course is relatively flat and fast, Dickerson tripped over exposed roots from a tree. Despite Dickerson’s injury, Raymore-Peculiar produced two runners in the top 10, including junior Katie McLeod who shaved 30 seconds from her best time.

Now, the Panthers prepare for the Suburban Conference Big Seven meet Saturday at Lake Jacomo against teams like Lee’s Summit North, Blue Springs South and Liberty.

“There’s no shoo-in for this meet,” Johnson said. “We just have to get (Dickerson) healthy for this week.”

SOFTBALLAs the Grain Valley softball team prepares for another Missouri Class 3 District 14 tournament as the No. 1 seed, bad memories from a year ago still abound.

Then, Harrisonville, which entered district competition as a sub-.500 team, advanced to the championship and shocked Grain Valley for the title.

“I think the girls are really focused on not letting that happen again,” coach Jim Oliver said. “They’re focused on a better outcome.”

Now 21-5 and needing one more victory to break last year’s single-season record win total, Grain Valley has a first-round bye, then returns to action on Thursday.

GIRLS TENNISOnly four teams will advance from the Missouri Class 2 District 7 girls tennis tournament that starts today at Santa Fe Park in Independence. Lee’s Summit North coach Stuart Reece said he believes that because Blue Springs South and Liberty are two of the favorite teams, the remaining squads will compete for the final two spots. Which means his Broncos, must arise from the crowd.

“We have a good chance depending on how we perform,” Reece said. “But I’ve got a couple of seniors who have really led the way for us this year.”

Lee’s Summit North will depend on its senior doubles team of Courtney Rogers and Kenzie Berwald.

“We really need for them to have an outstanding tournament,” Reece said. “And our other entries need to beat the people we’re supposed to beat. But we have as good of chance as any to advance to the (regionals) next week.”

submitted by CANDACE BUCKNER - 2009-10-06 13:19:01