ARKANSAS CITY — It was a small group of runners for Allen County Community College last Friday in the first cross country meet of the 2010 season.
But big gains came from the races for the Red Devil runners.
Three runners — Amanda Sharp, Solomon Abera and Patrick Johnson — were in their first collegiate races. Travis Kyte, the lone returning sophomore on the team, saw improvement in his time.
“We only took a few runners since not everyone was quite ready to race,” said Christa Baird, ACCC assistant coach.
“Travis was our first guy to finish the 5K race. He is going to be a huge asset to the team as he is a very strong runner and hard worker.”
Kyte finished the men’s 5K in 18 minutes, 29 seconds, which was 44th in the Cowley County Duals meet. Baird said Kyte’s time was a minute faster than his first-meet time of a year ago.
Sharp was the only woman running for ACCC. She ran the two-mile race in 16:14 for 50th place.
“Amanda’s first collegiate race went alright but we expect a lot more out of her in the future,” Baird said. “She’s going to be a great runner once she gets her injures straightened out.”
Back to the men’s race, Abera finished in 52nd place with a time of 19:10. Johnson ran the distance in 19:22 in 56th place.
Baird said both runners had a tough time on the course. “But as soon as they adjust to workouts and everything they are going to be running much faster.”
The ACCC runners will compete Saturday at the Wichita State Classic. The women’s race is a 4K and the men run a 6K race.
Season’s first races give ACCC runners gauge of themselves
