OVERLAND PARK — To illustrate the highly fickle nature of collegiate athletics, Allen Community College’s cross country teams achieved unprecedented levels of success over the weekend, which left many on the teams wondering “what if?”
Both the men and women took home second place in Region VI action. The women also captured second place among Jayhawk conference squads. The men went one better, claiming the Jayhawk Eastern Conference crown.
“But it was bittersweet,” coach Vince DeGrado said. “We know we could’ve won the region.”
So both squads will accept their lofty rankings for now, and work on improving their times for the upcoming NJCAA Championships Nov. 10 in Rend Lake, Ill.
Saturday’s meet was used to determine placings both in the Jayhawk Eastern Conference and Region VI.
For example, Red Devil sophomore Gabby Ruiz ran her 5K race in 18 minutes, 59.8 seconds, the fastest among Jayhawk East runners, but only the second fastest in Region VI, which includes schools from the western half of the state.
“She got the Eastern Conference title, but it didn’t mean a lot because she didn’t win the race,” DeGrado said.
The Red Devil women finished second among Jayhawk Eastern schools, a scant two points behind host Johnson County. Johnson County also won the Region VI title ahead of Allen in second.
“Yes, Allen has never finished second in Region VI before, but we wanted more,” DeGrado said.
Denae McGee’s time of 19:12.5 was good for second in Jayhawk East and third in Region VI.
“That’s about where we expected Gabby and Denae to finish; no worse than second and third,” DeGrado said.
Tsianina Whitetree was 10th in Jayhawk East and 18th in Region VI with a time of 20:09.1; Debra Kime was 13th and 22nd, respectively, at 20:32.8; Kim Boyle was 14th and 24th at 20:36.3; Kim Cooper was 16th and 27th at 20:45; Sydney Owens was 27th and 51st at 22:14.7. Bianca Ramirez’s time of 23:03.8, was not included in the final rankings. Boyle’s and Cooper’s times were personal records.
Johnson County scored 38 points in the conference standings, and 66 in Region VI. Allen had 40 points in conference; 69 in region.
“What that means is had we passed three runners we could have won conference,” DeGrado said. “Had we passed four people, we would have won the region.”
Lest he sound too disappointed, DeGrado praised his runners.
‘I’m proud with how all these girls ran,” he said. “Kim Boyle really stepped up for us. Debra fought hard, too.”
ON THE MEN’S side, Tegan Michael finished second in Jayhawk East and seventh in Region VI by running the 8K race in 25:43.8. Ryan Pulsifer was fourth in conference and 11th in Region VI with a time of 26:08.8. Garrett Colglazier was fifth and 12th, respectively, at 26:12.1. Josh Whittaker was seventh and 18th in 26:20.9. Kyle Schauvliege was eighth and 19th at 26:22.4. Brock Artis was ninth and 21st at 26:26.8. Evan Adams was 10th and 22nd at 26:31.6.
Tucker Morgan finished in 27:34.8 and Patrick Rachford in 27:39.9. Neither counted in team statistics.
By placing seven of the top 10 runners among Jayhawk East competitors, Allen easily claimed the conference title with 26 points. Johnson County was next at 64 points. Meanwhile, Colby Community College had 44 team points in Region VI standings, ahead of Allen’s 67.
“We went out too fast as a team,” DeGrado said. “I think we were too excited, and the course caught up with us.”
But the Red Devil runners persevered and pressed on the latter stages of the race.
“They really laid it all out there,” DeGrado said. “My hat’s off to the men. They gritted their teeth and pushed hard all season. This team never quit.
“Tegan Michael was huge for us this season,” he continued. “He’s done everything possible to redeem himself from last year (when he was temporarily dismissed from the team.)”
DeGrado also praised Pulsifer, “who led the charge for us, and Garrett Colglazier, who ran a tough, tough race.”
Schauvliege, meanwhile, has overcome injuries and other maladies, including a poison ivy diagnosis, DeGrado said.
DEGRADO is eager to see how both squads compete at nationals. Both the men and women have a shot at top-10 team rankings, “perhaps top 5,” he said.
“There’s a saying: hard work beats talent,” DeGrado continued. “Running is a perfect example. You can’t fake science; you can’t fake fitness. It’s a grind, and you have to grind it out and do the work.”
The Red Devil squads’ successes this year are indicative of the team’s potential. It’s up to the runners, DeGrado said, to continue to turn that potential into reality, particularly with nationals looming.
ACC men take home cross country title
