HS XC: Iola Mustangs
FORT SCOTT After last weeks season opener at Garnett was canceled due to weather, the Iola cross country team rebounded a week late in style, winning three out of their four races and finishing second in the fourth.
The Iola boys varsity and junior varsity and girls junior varsity started the season on top while the varsity girls finished second against a tough and experienced Fort Scott team that finished third overall at state last season.
The Iola varsity boys claimed six medals after placing six of their seven runners in the top 15, led by sophomore Jack Adams who finished third with a time of 18 minutes, 14 seconds, and senior Cole Regehr who finished fourth with a time of 18:33.
Freshman Trenton Varney (19:32) and sophomore Riley Jay (19:34) finished ninth and 10th and seniors Elijah Fawson (19:50) and Bret Plumlee (19:54) finished 13th and 15th.
This is a tough course, head coach Marv Smith said. Its not horribly hilly but it does have both uphill and downhill switchbacks. Taking six of the top 15 places was very satisfying.
For the varsity girls, four of the top seven finished in the top 15 led by junior Elka Billings (21:43) and her freshman sister Ursula (23:38) who finished in third and eighth, respectively.
Im never surprised at what Elka is able to do but her little sister was equally impressive, Smith said. She finished 9 seconds behind a Jayhawk-Linn runner who had a super season last year. Both Billings sisters were on Iolas swim team and I followed their results all summer. This makes me want to get everyone, boys and girls, on the swim team.
Rachel Bycroft finished 11th with a time of 23:44 followed by Kelsey Morrison (25:03) in 15th to round out the Fillies medalists.
On the junior varsity side of things, the Fillies top five finished three through seven led by Averie Sharon in third (25:28), Josie Plum-lee in fourth (26:04), Elanie Sturgeon in fifth (26:04), Audrey Coltrane in sixth (26:16) and Lorie Carpenter (27:14).
The girls team runs 12 deep with very good runners, Smith said. That means that the overflow from varsity (limited to seven runners) should expect some dominating JV races.
The junior varsity boys finished nearly 30 points ahead of number two Fort Scott and had three medalists led by Tavon Bass at second (20:14), Brett Morrison at six (21:22) and Landon Carson at 15th (22:52).
Junior Cal Leonard possibly wouldve ended up with a top 15 finish after winning the JV Fort Scott race last season but was shut down early in the race due to nagging preseason injuries.
The Mustangs and Fillies will try to keep the dominance rolling next Thursday when they head to Parsons.
