By BRENT MAYCOCK
The Capital-Journal
HOYT -- Good intentions just aren't enough when racing Riley County's Erin Mortimer.

 Just ask Shawnee Heights' Trisa Nickoley, Hayden's Stacee Marshall and Royal Valley's Ashley Chapman. All three runners had designs of keeping up with Mortimer at Thursday's Royal Valley Invitational at Hoyt City Park. And for the first half of the race, the trio made good on those intentions.

 But Mortimer was too tough over the last mile, pulling away from the lead pack for nearly a 30-second margin of victory.

 "I wanted to try and stay up with her the whole race," said Nickoley, who placed second in 11 minutes, 25.91 seconds. "She usually takes off at the mile mark, so I told myself to just try and stay with her. She just kind of gradually pulled away."

 Mortimer's winning time was a quick 10 minutes, 54.94 seconds, but she said the time was more than likely the result of a short course rather than a stellar day. She even covered a few more meters than her competitors, nearly missing a turn at the 3/4-mile mark before quickly recovering and tracking down Chapman, who had been right on her heels.

 "I didn't really know what to expect from everyone else," Mortimer said. "I just kept my normal pace and was able to put a gap there."

 Chapman wound up third in 11:35.69 and Marshall was fourth in 11:38.76. Northern Heights' Amy VanGundy was the only other runner under 12 minutes, finishing in 11:51.22. She led the Wildcats -- with all seven runners finishing in the top 30 -- to the team crown with 59 points.

 Hayden finished second with 88 points and Shawnee Heights took third with 95.

 While Mortimer was in complete control of the girls' two-mile race, the boys 5-kilometer race wasn't decided until the finish. Wamego's Todd Spreer and Northern Heights' Justin Johnson never were separated by more than a step or two throughout the race and well before the halfway point, they made it a two-man race.

 It stayed that way until the final 100 meters when Spreer began his kick. He was only able to gain a few steps on Johnson, but that was enough. Spreer won in 16:53.63 with Johnson less than a second back in 16:54.50.

 "I had planned on going out a little bit slower, but the feel of the race didn't allow me to do that," Spreer said. "We just kind of fed off of each other and it was anybody's race. I started going and I could still feel him. It was just guts toward the end."

 Spreer and Johnson have developed a nice little rivalry over the past week. Spreer used his kick to pass Johnson and Belleville's Tony Hoops in the final 100 meters for a come-from-behind win at Saturday's Rim Rock Invitational.

 Spreer's late charge caught Johnson, who had won his first two races of the season, by surprise. At Thursday's meet, Johnson kept Spreer in his sights, hoping to match kicks at the end.

 "I knew he had a kick from Rim Rock and I tried to move about a quarter mile out so I could have a little bit on him," Johnson said. "But he stayed right with me."

 The two won't see each other again this year, much to their chagrin.

 "It's fun running against him," Spreer said. "I'd rather be pushed like he does. It makes you go faster when you're neck and neck with somebody like that. I wish we had more chances to race each other."

 Wamego won the boys' crown with 44 points, placing five in the top 15. Riley County was second with 87 points and Northern Heights took third with 103. Hayden's Jordan Lacore was the top Topeka finisher, placing third in 17:26.97, one spot ahead of Shawnee Heights' Cody Eubanks.

 Brent Maycock can be reached at

 (785) 295-1188 or [email protected].

 ROYAL VALLEY INVITATIONAL

BOYS

 Team scores -- Wamego 44, Riley County 87, Northern Heights 103, Shawnee Heights 116, Hayden 127, Sabetha 141, Royal Valley 149, Santa Fe Trail 190, Oskaloosa 191.

 Top 10 -- 1. Todd Spreer, Wam., 16:53.63; 2. Justin Johnson, NH, 16:54.50; 3. Jordan Lacore, Hay., 17:26.97; 4. Cody Eubanks, SH, 17:41.11; 5. Eric Girton, Sab., 17:43.37; 6. Luke Sigle, RC, 17:50.66; 7. Joey Steen, Wam., 17:54.76; 8. Kyle Taylor, RV, 18:04.19; 9. Stafford Glaser, SH, 18:07.89; 10. Dustin Kelsey, Wam., 18:09.88.

 Hayden -- 22. John Imming, 18:45.47; 32. Alec Gorynski, 19:07.34; 34. Michael Lawlton, 19:23.90; 36. Ryan McGovern, 19:28.12; 38. Abe Sipe, 19:32.83; 44. Brian Flax, 19:57.06;

Northern Heights -- 13. Garett Frank, 18:20.60; 14. Ryan Marcotte, 18:28.35; 35. Caleb Clock, 19:26.90; 39. Jared Blaufuss, 19:36.76; 45. Randy Redelfs, 20:05.64; 52. Jerrod Commerford, 20:53.64.

 Rossville -- 56. Kyle Casey, 22:46.08; 59. Chris Graves, 23:59.72.

 Royal Valley -- 23. Denton Lambrecht, 18:51.59; 33. Jeff Dugan, 19:10.49; 42. Richard Manion, 19:44.32; 43. Matt May, 19:56.54.

 Santa Fe Trail -- 20. Matt Hull, 18:38.34; 31. Shawn Easterling, 19:06.39; 41. Randy Kohn, 19:44.06; 48. Ben Fawl, 20:29.26; 50. Brandon Smith, 20:43.91; 54. Rob Musgrave, 20:58.11; 55. Jake Marquart, 21:18.29.

 Shawnee Heights -- 26. Joel Conrad, 18:58.50; 37. Kyle Metzger, 19:30.86; 40. Jonathan Root, 19:41.41.

 St. Marys -- 58. Adam Feske, 23:41.70; 60. Lucas Stevenson, 25:46.54.

GIRLS

 Team scores -- Northern Heights 59, Hayden 88, Shawnee Heights 95, Wamego 110, Sabetha 130, Riley County 132, Royal Valley 160, Santa Fe Trail 168, Oskaloosa 238, Rossville 264.

 Top 10 -- 1. Erin Mortimer, RC, 10:54.94; 2. Trisa Nickoley, SH, 11:25.91; 3. Ashley Chapman, RV, 11:35.69; 4. Stacee Marshall, Hay., 11:38.76; 5. Amy VanGundy, NH, 11:51.22; 6. Ashley Davin, SH, 12:00.10; 7. Kari Robidou, NH, 12:00.54; 8. Laura Thurman, RV, 12:01.09; 9. Greta Leiker, Sab., 12:03.15; 10. Amanda Geist, Hay., 12:08.44.

 Hayden -- 21. Amy Geist, 12:43.52; 25. Jessica Herrera, 12:50.77; 28. Jeanie Lacore, 12:55.76; 36. Christine Moore, 13:17.17; 39. Gena McGivern, 13:21.25.

 Northern Heights -- 12. Morgan Howard, 12:23.33; 13. Ashley Johnson, 12:30.32; 22. Brenda Pracht, 12:46.88; 26. Megan Hedberg, 12:52.00; 29. Sarah Lockyear, 12:57.09.

 Rossville -- 31. Lisa Olberding, 13:00.66; 50. Margret Gorman, 15:52.50; 57. Laura Adrick, 16:19.45; 59. Sara Roth, 16:36.68; 62. Erica Smith, 17:46.03.

 Royal Valley -- 44. Kateri O'Toole, 13:39.08; 52. Julie Bond, 16:01.97; 56. Amber Starkson, 16:12.11; 58. Cole Hawkins, 16:34.62.

 Santa Fe Trail -- 16. Courtney Thompson, 12:38.13; 27. Erica Kraus, 12:52.70; 34. Christa Baird, 13:04.17; 43. Carolee Dale, 13:38.36; 48. Krystal Anderson, 14:17.32; 51. Michelle Williams, 16:01.55.

 Shawnee Heights -- 15. Laura Biery, 12:35.50; 35. Natalia Shepkin, 13:09.04; 37. Cammie Martinson, 13:18.58; 41. Stacy Scherschlight, 13:34.78.

Other league notes

Mid-East League -- Northern Heights' girls cross country team climbed back into the No. 2 ranking in Class 3A. The Wildcats placed seven runners in the top 25 at last Thursday's Royal Valley Invitational, running away with the crown. Justin Johnson was runner-up at the meet.

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