PARSONS — Iola High’s Mustangs run well at Big Hill Reservoir. Roman Yocham runs well in the Southeast Kansas League cross country meet.
Going into Thursday’s 2010 SEK meet hosted by Parsons at Big Hill, Yocham was the defending varsity champion. Yocham had finished third in 2008, which was the highest finish for an Iola High freshman in the SEK race.
Yocham defended his title winning the boys’ varsity 5K race in 17 minutes, 27 seconds. Yocham led the Mustangs to a second straight second-place finish in the SEK meet.
Labette County is the 2010 team champion with 33 points, Iola edged out Chanute, 61 points to 64. Parsons was fourth at 104 followed by Pittsburg at 107, Independence at 124. Fort Scott did not have a team score.
“It wasn’t an easy race for Roman but he showed a lot of patience as the other runners wore down,” said Marvin Smith, Iola cross country coach.
“Roman ran third or fourth for the early part of the race, took the lead with three-quarters of a mile to go and won by a 13-second margin over Stinson of Independence.”
Freshman Trent Latta joined Yocham in earning all-SEK honors, finishing ninth in 18:57.
The top 10 finishers claimed all-SEK League honors, while those who placed 11th through 20th were honorable mention.
Junior Christian Kauth and senior Dylan Lower were 17th and 18th, claiming league honorable mention. Kauth ran the distance in 19:34 and Lower came across the finish line in 19:36.
“Trent held off every challenger to remain in the medals. I’m especially pleased for Dylan with his league recognition. He has been the senior leader for all our younger athletes in practices,” Smith said.
Freshman Tyler Powelson, who has been running in the number three spot for the Mustangs, was hampered by a deep thigh bruise suffered Thursday in his physical education class.
“Tyler gutted it out and finished 22nd in 19:58. I have no doubt he would have been in the top 15 if not for this mishap,” Smith said.
Junior Bryan Miller finished 26th in 20:08 and freshman Michael Armstrong was 31st in 20:39.
IOLA HIGH’S FILLIES claimed fourth as a team at the league meet. Pittsburg won the championship with 31 points. Independence was second with 51 and Chanute took third with 56 points.
Led by junior Sydney Owens and senior Leah Weir, the Fillies scored 97 points for fourth. Owens and Weir earned all-SEK honorable mention.
Owens, who finished 27th in the league meet a year ago, ran the 4K varsity race in 18:45 for 13th place. Weir, who was 22nd last year and overcame some distress in Thursday’s race, ended up 19th in 19:23.
Seniors Kristin Linn, Jamie Spears and Abby Works finished 25th, 28th and 29th. Linn’s time was 20:39, followed by Spears at 20:50 and Works at 20:53.
“Sydney and Leah ran as a duo for much of the race but Leah was in pain and distress during the last mile. She told Sydney to ‘go on,’” Smith said.
Briann Burris, a junior, was unable to finish the race because of respiratory problems. Smith said the course and surrounding area had just been mowed.
Iola runners now will prepare for the Class 4A regional on Oct. 23 in Garnett.
