FORT SCOTT — Runners from Iola, Crest and Marmaton Valley were in the mix of top-10 finishes despite facing some of the best teams across southern Kansas and southern Missouri at Thursday’s Fort Scott Invitational.
Iola freshman Mariah Mathis may have turned the most heads by taking second place in only her second meet as a high-schooler.
“I was tired, but I just kept pushing through it,” said Mathis, who cleared the course in 21 minutes, 38 seconds, which was 30 seconds behind first place junior Ella Needham of Paola.
“I kept thinking, I’m so close. Let’s stick it out. I did a lot better than I expected and I’m proud of myself. It’s nice to know all of my hard work is paying off,” said Mathis.
Iola senior Keegan Hill finished third, clearing the course in 17:59.
The Mustangs took third as a team.
FUELING the drama was a duel in the final stretch between Marmaton Valley sophomore Brayden Endicott and Crest sophomore Dagon Denny.
Endicott won out in the end, clearing the course in 19:39 for seventh place and Denny in eighth with 19:44.
“I thought I did pretty well, because I didn’t at the last race,” said Endicott, who finished 19th at the Wildcats Classic in Burlington last weekend. “I felt better than at Burlington. And I started off really well. I was able to put some distance between me and the guy behind me.”
A little farther back, Marmaton Valley junior Kris McVey posted his first top 20 finish with 12th place in a time of 20:18.
Iola senior Ruger Boren posted his first top 20 finish of the season with 17th place in 20:59.
Thanks to a 22nd place finish by sophomore Adam Klubek, as well as 30th-place finish by senior Joshua Wanker in 21:57, Iola accrued enough points to take third as a team.
For the Crest varsity girls, freshmen Lynnex Allen and Jorden Allen finished third and sixth respectively. Lynnex cleared the course in 21:55 with Jorden crossing the finish line 42 seconds later.
Marmaton Valley’s Emma Louk finished 26th in 25:19.
Crest freshman Jorden Allen holds her own in the pack Thursday.
Schmidt, Scroggins take eighth-grade races
In middle school action, Crest eighth-grader Piper Schmidt won the race by more than 30 seconds to her nearest competitor.
