4,3,2-1A cross country: Riley paces 3A harriers
4,3,2-1A cross country: Riley paces 3A harriers
Luke Sigle couldn't think of a better one to give.
"This is the best one I've given him so far," said Luke Sigle, whose ninth-place finish in Saturday's Class 3A state cross country meet led Riley County to the Class 3A crown. "This is a lot easier to do than go out and buy him something.
Ranked No. 3 coming to Wamego, the Falcons all but ran away with their first title since winning back-to-back in 1994-95. Riley County scored 83 points, easily outdistancing runner-up Hillsboro by 36 points.
Garry Sigle's birthday always falls around state-meet time, yet he couldn't recall whether one of his previous teams gave him a birthday title. Something says he won't have problems remembering his 44th.
"I don't get too hung up on presents, but this was a nice one," Coach Sigle said. "We won championships in 1994 and 1995, and those were special because my oldest son, Ben, was a part of that team. This one's special because nobody really thought we'd win it, except me. Top to bottom, we ran well. I was just ecstatic about how well all seven ran."
Riley County's strength all season has been its pack mentality, and Saturday was no different. After Sigle, who finished in 17 minutes, 15.82 seconds, the next six Falcon runners were grouped between 21st and 57th.
Defending champion and No. 1-ranked Northern Heights slipped to fourth, hampered by an injury to top runner Justin Johnson. The Wildcats tied co-No. 1 Holcomb with 120 points, but lost out on a trophy via a sixth-runner score.
Johnson, who was battling a hip injury, slid from potential winner to 23rd. The Wildcats' lone all-stater was senior Ryan Marcotte, who placed 13th.
"We knew Riley County would be tough and that we'd have to run our best race," Heights coach Kristi Lockyear said. "With Justin suffering like he was, we knew that wouldn't happen."
Wabaunsee's Keen Umbehr placed seventh and Mission Valley freshman Ryan Patrick took 12th.
• The math may look funny, but three and two equalled one for Baldwin. The two-time defending champion Bulldogs made it three straight Class 4A crowns, scoring 52 points to edge Wamego by seven.
"It was a huge day for us," Baldwin coach Mike Spielman said. "We had all 14 kids, boys and girls, run personal bests. It was a really good day."
Baldwin's three-peat was led by junior Matt Noonan's repeat. The defending champion, Noonan set himself up for an individual three-peat with a 24-second victory in a steady rain. He finished in 16:02.83 and was followed in fifth by teammate Eric Black.
The title was twice as nice for the Noonan family as Matt's sister Megan won the girls' race.
Hayden's Jordan Lacore set his personal best by more than 10 seconds, placing seventh in 16:51.58.
"I could have run better, but it was perfect conditions out there for me," Lacore said. "I wanted top 10, so I'm very happy."
• Olpe was shooting for a top-six showing in Class 2-1A after taking third at its regional last Saturday. Instead, the unranked Eagles thrived on a muddy course and wound up second with 103 points, 24 behind Hutchinson Trinity.
"We knew that bad weather would help us out because it's good for the underdogs," Olpe coach Tom Camien said. "I think that's what showed up. Some of the better teams didn't run as well. We may not have been the most talented team in there, but we got the payoff at the end."
CLASS 4A
At Wamego
Team scores -- Baldwin 52, Wamego 59, Concordia 96, Clay Center 145, Clearwater 166, Anderson County 167, Tonganoxie 168, Colby 209, Hugoton 222, Caney Valley 222, Chapman 240, Iola 258.
Top 20 -- 1. Matt Noonan, Baldwin, 16:02.83; 2. Todd Worcester, Smoky Valley, 16:26.88; 3. Griffin Lee, Mill Valley, 16:27.82; 4. Todd Spreer, Wamego, 16:28.44; 5. Eric Black, Baldwin, 16:29.02; 6. Ryan Kirkpatrick, Concordia, 16:42.63; 7. Jordan Lacore, Hayden, 16:51.58; 8. Alan Davis, Tongy, 16:52.11; 9. Aaron Morgan, El Dorado, 17:00.45; 10. David Cox, AC, 17:01.75; 11. Ken Keil, Concordia, 17:03.73; 12. Joey Steen, Wamego, 17:04.53; 13. Kyle Norris, Tongy, 17:05.06; 14. Daniel Simon, Andale, 17:06.17; 15. Brian Elliott, Burlington, 17:08.45; 16. Rusty Thompson, CC, 17:09.90; 17. John Anderson, CC, 17:12.45; 18. Dustin Ringer, Concordia, 17:16.49; 19. Brandon Hempler, Wamego, 17:18.48; 20. Ryan Ghaffari, Rose Hill, 17:21.45.
Other area results -- Holton: 31. Chris Schuetz, 17:36.60.
CLASS 3A
At Wamego
Team scores -- Riley County 83, Hillsboro 119, Holcomb 120, Northern Heights 120, Belle Plaine 145, Central Heights 148, Hoisington 158, Wellsville 172, Sabetha 188, Royal Valley 203, Ellsworth 252, Oskaloosa 278.
Top 20 -- 1. Tyler Applegate, Jayhawk-Linn, 16:50.41; 2. Adam Willis, Hois, 16:55.94; 3. Jimmy Swogger, Bluestem, 16:59.19; 4. Tony Hoops, Belleville, 17:00.39; 5. Zac Andereck, Hois, 17:05.94; 6. Drew Sebelius, Norton, 17:06.95; 7. Keen Umbehr, Wabaunsee, 17:12.81; 8. Bryce Eitzmann, Belleville, 17:13.41; 9. Luke Sigle, Riley County, 17:15.82; 10. Eric Girton, Sabetha, 17:16.28; 11. Garrett Call, Hillsboro, 17:20.70; 12. Ryan Patrick, Mission Valley, 17:21.42; 13. Ryan Marcotte, NH, 17:21.91; 14. Chris George, Holcomb, 17:22.39; 15. Brady Raab, Beloit, 17:23.96; 16. David Coe, Wichita Collegiate, 17:24.93; 17. Shane Teter, Central Heights, 17:25.84; 18. Tim Cox, Lyndon, 17:26.78; 19. Chris Caruthers, Wells, 17:27.37; 20. Aaron Jewell, Wells, 17:30.55.
Other area results -- Northern Heights: 23. Justin Johnson, 17:34.99; 36. Garett Frank, 17:56.03; 58. Caleb Clock, 18:41.45; 60. Randy Redelfs, 18:43.72; 79. Jerad Blaufuss, 19:29.25; 86. Jerrod Commerford, 19:42.73. Riley County: 21. Fred Fosha, 17:31.95; 28. Brandon Mosher, 17:41.71; 35. Brock Glenn, 17:55.47; 49. Jack Kenworthy, 18:15.72; 56. Joe Geisler, 18:29.74; 57. Jon Hibbard, 18;34.92. Royal Valley: 24. Kyle Taylor, 17:35.66; 32. Denton Lambrecht, 17:52.04; 65. Matt May, 18:59.49; 70. Jeff Dugan, 19:07.98; 96. Richard Manion, 20:08.05; 100. Shane Grau, 20;32.94; 101. Jeremy Johnson, 20:34.49. Silver Lake: 51. Brian Dieker, 18:18.69.
CLASS 2-1A
At Wamego
Team scores -- Hutchinson Trinity 79, Olpe 103, Stanton County 114, KC Christian 117, Berean Academy 139, South Gray 142, Hill City 150, Wakefield 160, Jackson Heights 189, Meade 214, Remington 256, Washington 286.
Top 20 -- 1. John Palacioz, HT, 16:55.50; 2. Jared Fox, Stafford, 16:57.63; 3. Jose Martinez, Deerfield, 17:00.60; 4. Brandon Coyle, Wake, 17:11.32; 5. Aaron Kennedy, Madison, 17:18.32; 6. Lance Hill, Hutch-Central Christian, 17:19.71; 7. Ryan Dittmer, Tribune, 17:26.30; 8. Cory Enterkin, Sedgwick, 17:31.22; 9. Terrance Lashmet, SC, 17:32.13; 10. Phil Branden, KCC, 17:38.31; 11. Dustin Ballinger, Olpe, 17:39.27; 12. Nathan Daklke, SG, 17:39.92; 13. Clint Jackson, Lincoln, 17:43.22; 14. Christian Smith, Pawnee Heights, 17:43.75; 15. Mike Hendershoot, Hillcrest, 17:44.95; 16. Jon Dyck, Berean, 17:45.73; 17. Jeff Hlad, Sylvan Grove, 17:46.90; 18. Tanner Long, HC, 17:48.94; 19. William Regier, Rem, 17:49.80; 20. James Wacker, HC, 17:51.35.
Other area results -- Jackson Heights: 31. Paul Koci, 18:11.26; 35. Andy Fenton, 18:18.53; 60. Mitch Bagby, 18:46.90; 69. Chris Holliday, 19:07.37; 87. Brad Alley, 20:03.81; 94. Danny Schmitz, 20:37.09; 100. Luke Schreiber, 21:13.61. Olpe: 23. Trevor Schreiner, 17:53.08; 36. Reid Farr, 18:19.50; 45. Charles Stephens, 18:29.15; 56. Matt Medenciy, 18:42.35.