Crest wins second straight regional

Crest's girls cross country team took first place and will send four runners to the state meet at the Class 1A regional meet at Wichita-Trinity Academy Saturday. Marmaton Valley and Yates Center also competed.

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October 23, 2023 - 3:52 PM

Crest's girls cross country team took first place at the Class 1A regional meet in Wichita Saturday. COURTESY PHOTO

WICHITA — The Crest High girls cross country team came in first place finish at Saturday’s Class 1A regional meet at Wichita-Trinity Academy. Marmaton Valley and Yates Center also competed.

It was the second year in a row for the Lady Lancers to secure the regional championship. Five Lancers, four girls and one boy, qualified to compete at the Oct. 29 state meet in Wamego.

“Setting higher expectations can be a good thing or a bad thing,” Crest head coach Kaitlyn Cummings said in aiming for a repeat performance. “Accomplishing this is a big deal because it doesn’t seem to happen a lot. It can happen but not overnight.”

“We peaked at the right time. These sophomore girls have been running with each other for four years now,” said Cummings.

Crest 

Josie Walter led the pack for Crest with a third place finish. Walter’s time for the 5,000-meter race was 20 minutes, 25 seconds. 

Also finishing in the top 10 were Peyton Schmidt, fifth place, 22:19; and Aubrey Allen, eighth place, 22:41.

Kaylee Allen placed 21st with a time of 24:16.

Crest’s Gunner Ellington with his sixth place medal at the Class 1A regional meet in Wichita. COURTESY PHOTO

In the boys 5,000-meter run, Gunner Ellington snatched a sixth place finish with a time of 19:08.

“Gunner’s been a real big asset to our team,” said Cummings. “Being able to see his progression this season has been great because he’s a dual-sport athlete. He’s brought a lot of positivity to the team along with the other junior boys.”

Ellington is also on the Lancers football team. They face Canton-Galva in Canton on Friday evening.

Elijah Taylor followed in 20th place, 20:31, while Ryan West came in 47th, 23:29. 

Marmaton Valley 

Sophia Heim finished top of Marmaton Valley’s runners. Heim took 27th with a finish of 25:32. 

Brendon Newman was the lone runner for the Wildcat boys. Newman came in 55th with a finish of 25:59. 

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