Cross Country Late Season Thoughts

Well we are about to hit the postseason portion of the cross country schedule with League, Regionals and State quickly approaching, so I thought it would be a good time for some random observations from the first part of the year. Here are some things I have noticed in no particular order.

- I continue to be impressed by the Derby XC program. Neil Metler has stepped up and ran a crazy good time at the Oklahoma State Cowboy Jamboree. He went 15:53 on the OSU course to take second place in his race of 218 runners. Metler had the second fastest time out of 556 varsity runners to step on the course. Not bad at all on a course that is one of the best true cross country courses in the Midwest. This kid is just getting better as the season goes on. I don’t think he can take down Lawrence’s Roy Wedge, but he I like his chances of cracking the top seven at state.

-The Derby girls, led by Amber Green and Emily Hornbeck, looked poised to repeat as 6A team state champions. Some of the team results have been a little off, but the times are still there on similar courses. Here is a breakdown comparing last year’s state championship team to this year’s team:

o Carroll Invite – 2008 Average = 17:13 2009 Average = 16:45
o Hesston Invite – 2008 Average = 16:22 2009 Average = 16:25
o Turner Invite – 2008 Average = 18:19 2009 Average = 18:00
o Rim Rock – 2008 Average = 17:00 2009 Average = 17:05
o OSU – 2008 Average = 12:09 2009 Average = 12:20

That is pretty solid consistency and in Derby’s recent history its runners just get better as a running season progresses (just look at Jake Wike and his end of the year performance at the state track meet)

-We are witnessing a pretty special year in girls distance running with Avery Clifton of Topeka Washburn Rural, Kaelyn Balch of Carroll and Mackenzie Maki of Kapaun. The Southeast Invitational was something special with Clifton’s 13:48 and Balch’s 14:01. They both beat the defending 5A state champion Maki by a margin. This prompted some “What’s wrong with Maki” questions. I am here to tell you there is nothing wrong with Maki. The Kapaun junior has shown remarkable improvement from this year to last year. Don’t believe me? Kapaun has run the same courses as last year to this point so it is easy to compare apples to apples. Take a look at Maki's times from last year to this year:

o Carroll – 2008 Time – 15:46 2009 Time: 14:49
o Hesston – 2008 Time: 15:16 2009 Time: 14:48
o Southeast – 2008 Time – 15:20 2009 Time: 14:48
o Rim Rock – 2008 Time – 16:25 2009 Time: 15:29
o OSU (2 Mile) – 2008 Time - 11:33 2009 Time: 11:16

The only difference is that Maki is not winning as often because of the Carroll super freshman Balch. Any other year her improvement would be huge news. I am looking forward to state to see Maki’s experience and ability battle Balch’s raw talent on the Rim Rock course. Don’t count the Kapaun harrier out yet. She didn’t run the 18th fastest 3200 in Kansas High School history last spring by accident.

-Moving on, the Mulvane Boys are good. There is not much else to be said about that juggernaut that has not already been said.

-Adam Porter is good as well, but he is not as untouchable in XC as he was in track last spring. Hutchinson’s Cameron Sprague was only seven seconds back of Porter at Newton last week. I would not be surprised to see Josh Munsch of Hays step up and give Porter a challenge as well. Munsch has beaten Sprague the two times they race, so this battle will be fun. The 5A state race will be interesting, but you still cannot bet against Porter.

- We will know a lot more after the El Dorado Meet on Saturday, but don’t be surprised if at the GWAL meet Wichita East sneaks up and surprises the Carroll juggernaut on the boys side. East is running solid, while Carroll has had issues with sickness.

- My quick picks for the Individual State titles in each class going into the post season. I will update these based on what league and regionals look like at a later time:

6A Boys – Roy Wedge of Lawrence – Last year’s 6A runner-up and he has done something not many have done in Kansas distance running in the past year; beat Adam Porter head-to-head. Logan Sloan of Lawrence Free State did edge him head-to-head early on in the season.
6A Girls – Avery Clifton of Topeka Washburn Rural – 13:48, enough said.

5A Boys – Adam Porter of McPherson – Really cannot bet against him at this point. It won’t be a blowout like the state track meet, but I think he pulls it out over Sprague and Munsch.
5A Girls – Kaelyn Balch of Bishop Carroll – Maki is still the champion, but Balch is in another stratosphere right now. If it turns into a kicker’s race then lookout for Maki. She has the top end speed to take Balch.

4A Boys – Riley Woodward of Wamego – It is his home course and he has done well all season long. His biggest challengers will be Evan Landes and Nikki Trooien-Smith of Mulvane and Tony Weiss of Baldwin. Woodward has seen the Mulvane boys twice and beat them twice.
4A Girls – Molly Milbourn of El Dorado – She really burst onto the distance running scene with her state championship last fall and this fall should be no different. At the Wamego Invitational she blew the field away. My dark horse would be Cheyenne Becker of Pratt. She is largely untested this year, but a talented runner.

3A Boys – Kayson Matthews of Lakin – Matthews was 31st at state last season, but the kid has been money all season long so far. He has consistently run sub-17, which would have been good enough to win last year.
3A Girls – Heather Ruder of Thomas More Prep – There is good running tradition at TMP and Ruder is another in that line. Her one big loss this year was to Cheyenne Becker of Pratt. Ruder has thrown down times comparable to 5A All-Stater Rubi Torres of Great Bend. Ruder ran 14 seconds better Torres at the Hays Invitational

2A Boys – Jimmy Phitts of Repbulic County – This class is wide open. Cory Keehn of Jackson Heights is back as is the 3200 champion of Stanton County Eric Ruth. Phitts has had a solid season and appears to have really learned how to win this season.
2A Girls – Jillian Stratman of Bennington – If Katelyn Henderson of Olpe is 100-percnt healthy; I still like her to win. Henderson has not shown up in results recently making me question if something is wrong. Stratman has had a great season and there is no reason she cannot win the title if Henderson is not at 100-percent.

1A Boys – Colton McNinch of Ness City – He threw down with the big boys at the Rim Rock Invitational and held his own. He was 22nd out of 207 in the Gold Race with a 16:47 on a challenging course. He also beat Cameron Sprague head-to-head early in the season.
1A Girls – Naomi Reeh of Cheylin – There are a ton of returners in this class including the champion from last year Rachel Renken of Lakeside. Reeh is the defending 3200-meter state champion. She beat Renken head-to-head at Hill City by 20 seconds. Kerra Cissnne of Lincoln is another to watch out for.

Well there you have it with my rather long ramblings. Like it? Hate it? Have something to add? Am I leaving out an athlete who is lighting it up on this XC courses this season? (this is extremely possible just due to the huge scope of XC) Let me know by commenting or e-mailing me at cparker@kwch.com.