Senior’s hopes dashed, but she leads Saints to 5A championship

Source: The Star

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Photos by ALLISON LONG | The Kansas City Star

Christine Nelson of Shawnee Mission Northwest finished 11th in the Class 6A girls 4K at Rim Rock Farm on Saturday. The SM Northwest girls finished fourth as a team.

It’s not a contact sport, but it’s no less demanding. Preston Pyle of Gardner Edgerton avoided Andrew Hanson.

Ashley Washburn

The top two boys in Class 6A: runner-up Andrew Stevens of SM South (left) and winner Roy Wedge of Lawrence.

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St. Thomas Aquinas senior Ashley Washburn had high hopes entering the Kansas 5A state cross country meet last Saturday at Rim Rock Farm near Lawrence.

After finishing second at state the last two years, it’s hard to blame her. She also was realistic, however, because Kapaun Mount Carmel’s MacKenzie Maki, who had finished ahead of her last season, was back. In addition, Kaelyn Balch of Bishop Carroll had been challenging Maki all season.

“I knew it would be tough,” Washburn said. “I was just hoping for the best and not doubting myself.”

Turns out Maki and Balch finished 1-2. But Washburn, who took third, was just fine with the final result, considering the Saints won the team competition with a score of 44.

“The most important thing for everyone here was to win state as a team, which is what we did,” Washburn said. “I would take that over winning it individually.”

The Saints had five other girls finish in the top 20. Senior Morgan Commodore (seventh), freshman Libby Reazin (10th), senior Meagan Wilderson (11th) and freshman Jennifer Angles (17th) all medaled. Junior Betsy Donahue (25th) and senior Amanda Pigott (26th) also ran for the Saints.

•Shawnee Mission West freshman Alli Cash didn’t feel much pressure entering the Kansas 6A state meet last Saturday.

“I was supposed to finish 10th based on the standings,” Cash said. “My goal was to get under 16 minutes. I wanted to keep up with the top runners and be calm in the first mile and turn it on in the second mile.”

She executed her game plan to perfection, finishing in 15 minutes, 41.65 seconds, which was good for third place, much to her pleasure — and surprise.

“Hopefully I can do it again next year,” Cash said.

•By the end of the Kansas 2A state meet, which was at Wamego Country Club, Maranatha coach Bianca Anderson couldn’t have been happier.

Her girls cross country team, led by senior Bethany Zarda, had just finished second with 99 points, 34 behind first place Bennington.

Considering the fact that four of her seven runners were competing at state for the first time, Anderson said she definitely will take that finish.

“I really feel like they all showed up and did well,” Anderson said. “They really rose to the occasion.”

Anderson was particularly thrilled for Zarda, who finished fifth in 16 minutes, 43.19 seconds.

“She’s been a team leader all year,” Anderson said. “She’s really helped the younger girls along.”

•Led by junior Lacey Erickson, the De Soto girls finished second at the 4A state meet for the second consecutive year.

Erickson finished 13th in 16 minutes, 18.27 seconds, but she wasn’t the highest local finisher. That honor goes to St. James senior Amy Feldkamp, who finished 10th in 16:08.42.

De Soto’s boys took third with 120 points, behind Mulvane and Wamego. The Wildcats were led by freshman Angel Vasquez, who finished seventh in 17:06.39.

•Other top-10 finishers from local schools included SM Northwest senior Lisa Imgrund, who finished sixth in 6A girls in 15:46.22, and SM Northwest junior Aaron Thornburg, who finished seventh in 6A boys in 16:19.59.

submitted by TEREZ A. PAYLOR - 2009-11-03 13:59:02