Heights, Olpe poised for state title repeats

By Spencer Duncan
The Emporia Gazette

Don´t get Howard wrong, she and her running mates want to win the Class 3A state title which they will compete for today in Wamego.

After all, the Heights boys´ and girls teams are the defending state champion.

But, Howard also knows that what the team has accomplished this season is remarkable, state title or not.

“It has been really exciting,” she said. “We were not sure what the team would be like this season, but we have really worked hard and been improving all the time.”

The Heights´ girls have not been beaten this season and last Saturday the team captured its fourth consecutive league crown.

Heading into today´s race, the team is clearly the favorite.

“It looks pretty good,” said head coach Kristi Lockyear. “It's up for grabs and we're right there. That's been our goal all year. We know it's going to be tough, but it was tough last year, too."

The boys´ will also defend their title and, like the girls, are favorites to repeat.

The boys have only been beaten by Riley County, twice, and 4A power Wamego this season.

“We feel a little pressure,” said Heights runner Ryan Marcotte. But we feel more confident than we did at the beginning of the season. We feel strong and believe we can do it.”

No. 1 runners Justin Johnson and Amy VanGundy are the teams best prospects at individual state champions.

Johnson is a top contender for the 3A crown, along with Jayhawk-Linn's Tyler Applegate, Belleville's Tony Hoops, Central Heights´ Shane Teter and Hoisington's Adam Willis.

Johnson, a senior, finished third to Applegate and Teter at the regional meet, while battling a hip problem.

The hip is still a little sore, but Johnson said it won´t effect him today.

“This has been a really fun year,” he said. “I want to go out there and do well, for my team and because this is my final chance.”

VanGundy would likely be the favorite to win the state title if not for Riley County's Erin Mortimer, the favorite to win.

“I´m looking forward to it,” VanGundy said of the challenge. “It´s very exciting. I know it is not going to be easy, but I really like the challenge.”

The real key to Heights success this season has been the emergence a young group of runners.

Howard, the lone senior on the girls' team, and Garett Frank have giant strides while freshmen Ashley Johnson and Sarah Lockyear have been progressed sooner than expected.

“Ashley was a great surprise for us,” Coach Lockyear said. “She and Sarah are going to be great for us the next three years.”

Southwestern Heights, which spent most of the season at No. 1 after finishing runner-up last year, are the Wildcats´ top challenger in the girls´ race. Heights boys also are ranked No. 1, sharing the spot with Holcomb, and will have to fight off Riley County.

“We are a different team than last year,” Johnson said. “It has really been great. Hopefully for one more race, we can keep it going.”

Olpe

Olpe captured the Class 2-1A crown last year, and today in Wamego hope to repeat the feat.

Olpe does not enter the race ranked No. 1, as they are ranked No. 3, but a talented freshman class has coach Tom Camien optimistic.

“I couldn't ask for more,” he said. “The freshmen we picked up are probably better than the three we lost. As a team, we're better this year. "

Sophomore Allison Samuels was one of the top returners this year, the real emergence has been by freshman Michelle Stueve.

Stueve won the regional last week and has not lost to a 2-1A runner this year.

Freshman Sheila Zeller and Mandy Cole have given the team the depth it needed to stay competitive.

Olpe has lost just once this year, getting beat by Northern Heights.

Lyndon

Sisters Desiraye and Jesi Osburn are the only runners competing for the school in the 3A race.

The two snagged top five finished at regional to qualify for the state meet.