Redskins Run Second in Great Bend

The LHS cross country teams traveled to Lake Barton for the Great Bend Invitational on Thursday. Teams in attendance were Great Bend, Holcomb, Salina South, Hays, Hutchinson, Ellinwood, Garden City, Hutchinson Central Christian, and Liberal. In addition to the other teams, the runners faced some extreme weather with a mixture of heat and wind.

The Lady Redskins had a young varsity team consisting one lone Senior but only second year runner Allyson Nondorf, Sophomores Camryn Slatten, Saw Ahmara, Yanelly Jurado, Karen Hernandez, and freshman Tania Minjarez and Reyn Slatten. Camryn led the way for the Redskins running the 4 kilometer course in a time of 17:07 and placing 2^nd overall. Ahmara was the next Liberal Runner to cross the line in 11^th place, while Jurado was close behind in 14^th place. Minjarez was another top 20 runner placing 19^th. Reyn Slatten, in her first cross country race ever, recorded a time of 19:33 good enough for a 23^rd place. First time cross country runner Karen Hernandez placed 29^th place, while Nondorf was the 33^rd runner to complete the race. The Lady Redskins battled for the team championship but came in second losing by 8 points to Ellinwood High School, who has placed in the top three of the state meet the last three years at 2A. Top four teams were Ellinwood 55, Liberal 63, Hays 84, and Salina South 105.

The boys squad started with some new additions to the team in Senior Jerry Valdez and Sophomore Juan Beltran. The defending Western Athletic Conference runner of the year Obed Quintana lead the race about half way until the heat caught up to him. Quintana ended up 4^th for the 5 kilometer race completing the course in 17:31. Junior’s Greg McClurg and Alex Chance were the next two Liberal runners placing 12^th and 17^th. Seniors Luis Medina, Ivan Aleman, and Jerry Valdez were the 21^st, 23^rd, and 25^th finishers, while Sophomore Juan Beltran placed 29^th with his time of 19:30. Liberal ended the race in a tie for second place with Great Bend with 70 points, but won the tie breaker since Liberal’s sixth runner beat Great Bend’s sixth runner. The top four team scores were Garden City 31, Liberal 70, Great Bend 70, and Salina South 110.

The Redskins will race again next Thurday, along with 50 other schools, at the Swather Special in Hesston, Kansas.