By
BRENT MAYCOCK
The Capital-Journal
ESKRIDGE -- During its tenure
in the now-defunct Blue Valley League, Riley County and league cross country
championships went hand in hand.
In 18 years, the Falcons captured 16 boys' team crowns.
In 1997, Riley County joined the Mid-East League and its run on boys' league crowns ran dry. That drought is now over.
The Falcons dethroned three-time defending Mid-East League champion Northern Heights at Thursday's league meet at Mission Valley. Placing six runners in the top 13, Riley County nipped Heights by a narrow 36-39 margin and claimed its first Mid-East crown.
"They're a good team and a good program and we've been trying to keep up with them," Riley County coach Garry Sigle said of Heights, the defending Class 3A champion and current No. 1 in the coaches poll. "It's a tough league with Heights, Wabaunsee, Mission Valley and really everyone. It's a good league for distance and to win this says a lot about the quality of your team."
Heights did successfully defend its girls' team crown. All seven Wildcat runners placed in the top 15 as Heights ran away from runner-up Mission Valley by 17 points (30-47).
Though ecstatic about the performance by her girls' squad, Heights coach Kristi Lockyear was naturally disappointed not to pull off the sweep for the second straight year.
"If we were going to go every other meet with them, I wish we could have gotten this one," said Lockyear, referring to the two rivals' tug-of-war this year. Both teams have now beaten the other twice this season, alternating each time they've met.
"The boys gave it all they had."
When the schools met last week at the Council Grove Invitational, Heights' Justin Johnson, Ryan Marcotte and Garett Frank all finished before Riley County's top runner, Luke Sigle. Garry Sigle knew if the Falcons were going to knock off Heights, that couldn't happen again.
"Luke had to break up their top three," Garry Sigle said. "And our pack had to hold off their No. 4 and 5 guys."
That's about what happened. Johnson pulled away from Sigle and Wabaunsee's Keen Umbehr shortly after the mile mark and won by nearly a minute with a time of 16 minutes, 33 seconds. But Sigle stayed in second and then the Falcons grouped five runners between seventh and 13th place, offsetting a fourth and fifth from Marcotte and Frank.
The girls' race was far less dramatic.
Erin Mortimer was matched virtually stride-for-stride by Mission Valley's Blair Spencer for the first mile before making her move. The Falcon standout pulled away for an easy win in 11:47 and Spencer was second in 12:20.
Heights' Amy VanGundy, Kari Robidou and Ashley Johnson finished 3-4-5.
MID-EAST LEAGUE
Boys
Team scores -- Riley County 36, Northern Heights 39, Mission Valley 85, Wabaunsee 103, Rock Creek 110, Osage City 160, Kaw Valley 196.
Individual results -- 1. Justin Johnson, NH, 16:33; 2. Luke Sigle, RiCo, 17:23; 3. Keen Umbehr, Wab., 17:31; 4. Ryan Marcotte, NH, 17:39; 5. Garett Frank, NH, 17:43; 6. Brian Dieker, Silver Lake, 17:58; 7. Brandon Mosher, RiCo, 18:00; 8. Ryan Patrick, MV, 18:03; 9. Fred Fosha, RiCo, 18:03; 10. Brock Glenn, RiCo, 18:16; 11. Caleb Clock, NH, 18:18; 12. Jon Hibbard, RiCo, 18:31; 13. Jack Kenworthy, RiCo, 18:37; 14. Eric Borchers, RoCr, 18:42; 15. Chad Sanders, RoCr, 18:46.
Other area results -- Kaw Valley (Rossville/St. Marys): 36. Kyle Casey, 21:03; 38. Thadd Swann, 21:58; 43. Chris Graves, 22:59; 44. Adam Teske, 23:04; 45. Lucas Stevenson, 23:17; 47. Garrett Stover, 24:27. Mission Valley: 16. A.J. Burgen, 18:52; 17. Quinton Kemp, 18:53; 22. Ryan Musil, 19:35; 27. Andrew Limbocker, 19:56; 31. Ross Sage, 20:24; 37. Blair Wyrick, 21:08. Northern Heights: 20. Randy Redelfs, 19:14; 23. Jerad Blaufuss, 19:40; 25. Jerrod Commerford, 19:51. Osage City: 26. Brian Carriger, 19:55; 33. Mike Burkdoll, 20:35; 34. Collin Earhart, 20:47; 35. Joe Punches, 20:55; 41. Mark Brewer, 22:41; 46. Phillip McAnulty, 24:16. Silver Lake: 29. Chris Grennan, 20:14. Wabaunsee: 21. Gabe Zeller, 19:20; 24. Steve Davis, 19:45; 28. Shawn Hurla, 20:13; 32. Adam Fleming, 20:34; 40. Marco Grieogo, 22:09; 42. Tim Roberts, 22:47.
Girls
Team scores -- Northern Heights 30, Mission Valley 47, Riley County 63, Rock Creek 105.
Individual results -- 1. Erin Mortimer, RiCo, 11:47; 2. Blair Spencer, MV, 12:20; 3. Amy VanGundy, NH, 12:43; 4. Kari Robidou, NH, 13:06; 5. Ashley Johnson, NH, 13:08; 6. Tina Todd, MV, 13:10; 7. Nicole Heptig, RoCr, 13:13; 8. Morgan Howard, NH, 13:14; 9. Melissa Visser, RiCo, 13:24; 10. Brenda Pracht, NH, 13:28; 11. Annie Browning, MV, 13:31; 12. Coye Crenshaw-Kleve, Wab., 13:47; 13. Megan Hedberg, 13:52; 14. Sarah Browning, MV, 13:58; 15. Sarah Lockyear, NH, 14:04.
Other area results -- Kaw Valley: 19. Lisa Olberding, 14:32; 28. Maikgen Jaeschke, 15:00; 34. Coleen Ledford, 16:03; 35. Laura Andrick, 16:27; 37. Sara Roth, 17:24; 39. Margret Gorman, 18:35. Mission Valley: 16. Megan Ross, 14:05; 24. Valerie Logan, 14:47; 29. Kristen Zielke, 15:03. Osage City: 18. Lindsay Gogolski, 14:30; 30. Leana Thompson, 15:09. Silver Lake: 20. Tara Hamilton, 14:42; 26. Hayley Holthus, 14:55; 33. Erin Grennan, 16:01. Wabaunsee: 38. Emily Reding, 17:58.
Northern Heights' Justin Johnson, front, led a pack that
included Wabaunsee's Keen Umbehr, center right, Riley County's Luke Sigle,
center left, and Northern Heights' Ryan Marcotte, obscured, during Thursday's
Mid-East League cross country meet at Mission Valley High School. Johnson
won the race, but Riley County denied Heights its fourth straight team
title.
Jenny Sparks/The
Capital-Journal