Class 2A State Cross Country Preview

Katelyn Henderson returns and team with revenge on the mind highlight the class 2A meet.

For other state meet previews:
Class 6A
Class 5A
Class 4A
Class 3A

Top 5 Individual Girls

1. Katelyn Henderson – Olpe
Henderson is the best female runner on this side of class 4A period. She was the champion last year as a sophomore and should repeat this year. The Olpe star cruised to a 10 second win at the Wamego Invitational earlier in the season. Jillian Stratman of Bennington will give her a run, but Henderson should win out fairly easily.

2. Jillian Stratman – Bennington
Stratman is the second best female runner on this side of 4A, but unfortunately for her Henderson is in this class. I think Stratman could give her a race, but Henderson wins in the end. Henderson and Stratman will be way out front of the chase pack.

3. Hillary Bersley-Callaway – Rock Hills
Here is where things get a little tougher to predict with 1A. There are about 10 candidates to finish in the third through fifth. Callaway was third at her regional meet behind Henderson and Sarah Faber of Salina Sacred Heart. The regional meet was the rubber match between Callaway and Faber. Faber beat Callaway by seven seconds at the Beloit Invitational, but Callaway got Faber by 23 seconds at the Lakeside Invitational. Callaway was fourth last season in 1A, but could move up a spot this year in 2A for her senior season at state.

4. Sarah Faber – Salina Sacred Heart
Faber and Callaway are likely interchangeable and it should be a good race to watch. Faber’s teammate Ally Balderston could easily be up there as well because both have been Sacred Heart’s number one over the course of the season. Faber ran 16:34 at her regional meet.

5. Bethany Zarda – Maranatha Academy
There is an extreme amount of parody from here through fifteenth place. I give the edge to Zarda for a few reasons. First, Maranatha Academy has an excellent record when it comes to state meets and always shows up. Zarda was sixth last season. Third, her name is Zarda. I am guessing she is related in some way to the 2A boys 3200-meter record holder Zach Zarda who now runs for the University of Kansas. There is definitely a running pedigree there.

Top 3 Teams
1. Bennington
Stratman may not get an individual title, but she is almost assured to get a team title. Maranatha ran close to Bennington at the Rim Rock Invitational as Bennington only edged it by 2 points, but the overall time gap for each team was bigger. Bennington averaged 18:42 a girl while Maranatha averaged 18:51.

2. Maranatha Academy
Maranatha pushed Bennington in a big field early this season, but the top two teams will likely flip based on the strength of Bennington’s four and five. The teams match up well through three, but at Region Maranatha had its four and five over 18:20, while Bennington had its four and five at 18:00 or better. Bennington might be able to put six in front of Maranatha’s five and that would be huge. Maranatha did take second at its regional to Berean Academy, but they get some points for program reputation and being defending state champions.

3. Berean Academy
Berean Academy matches up perfectly with Marantha Academy and it will be a great race, but Zarda’s big gap on Berean’s one could be the difference as it is a big point difference in a large field. This race is going to be insanely close, within seven points the way I am figuring it. At the state meet, seven points is only a five second difference one way or the other for a couple of runners. This one could easily go either way.

Top 5 Individual Boys

1. Eric Ruth – Stanton County
Cross Country times are arbitrary because every course is different, but Ruth is the only one of the 2A boys that I could find that has thrown down a sub-16 performance. He was the 2A 3200-meter champion last spring in track and has continued to improve as the season has gone on and appears to be peaking at the right time for his senior state meet.

2. Jimmy Phitts – Republic County
This kid just wins. He never really throws down a sick time, but always is there rising to the competition. He beat the Minneapolis runners at Beloit Invitational where he was the champion. That was probably his biggest victory of the year as he handled the field by 20 seconds. He could be one that surprises and pushes Ruth.

3. Brady Johnson – Plainville
Johnson is another example of a kid who turned a corner in track his freshman year last spring and has continued to finish at or near the top every time he races>

4. Arlan Newby – Bereany Academy
Newby has been the consistent one for Berean in his senior season. He, Daniel Claassan and Josiah Busenitz are a formidable 1-2-3 punch. Newby’s racing style is perfect for a course like Wamego. He will go out conservatively and let the field fall back to him to finish at or near the top of the state meet.

5. Daniel Claassan – Berean Academy
Claassan beat Newby by six seconds at the regional meet, which is a culmination of his rise throughout this season where he has continued to improve and impress. He has raced against top flight competition like Mulvane. Berean Academy is battle tested and ready to go.

Top 3 Teams

1. Berean Academy
Outside of Mulvane winning 4A on the boys side, there may not be a more sure thing than Berean Academy romping in 2A. It legitimately could have three runners in the top seven and nobody would be surprised. Its top three are all sub-17 capable at Wamego and the four, five and six runners are all sub-17:30 capable. Even if one runner has a bad day, other runners will be there to pick it up.

2. Stanton County
Stanton County is extremely solid with Ruth front running and then its two through four in the mid to low 18’s ability. It will have to get a little more out its fifth runner if it is going to hold onto second comfortably. The number five for Stanton County went 20:38 at Region. He will need to be closer to 19:45 at state to secure this spot.

3. Wathena
Cody Miller separates Wathena from Bennington in my eyes. Bennington’s pack is solid, but it does not have a true front runner like Miller is for Wathena. The race is close, but Miller’s low number makes the difference in the race for a trophy.