EUREKA Last week, Iola cross country was scheduled to compete at Central Heights, but plans went by the wayside due to thunderstorms. Instead of making up the meet on Monday, head coach Marv Smith organized his runners to compete in Eureka on Tuesday.
The only runners not competing were Fillie and Mustang varsity runners. Instead, Smith put his junior varsity runners in the varsity races in order to discover his varsity alternatives moving forward.
The middle school section has tough competition with schools as big as Wichita.
The seventh-grade boys answered the call, and tied for first with Wichita Trinity with 47 points apiece. The Ponies number-one runner, Cole Moyer, finished third with a time of 12:04, and Brigg Shannon also placed in the top 10 finishing sixth. Others competing were Ethan Riebel 33rd (16:19), Alejandro Escalente 34th (16:37), and Robert Warren 41st (19:57).
Only two runners competed in the seventh-grade girls race, meaning no team score was compiled. Alyssa Williams finished 23rd (18:41), and Madeline Wanker placed 29th (20:56).
For the eighth-grade races, neither the boys or girls were able to compete for team scores. Japheth Rutoh finished as the fastest boy Pony, finishing sixth with a time of 12:29. Also competing for the boys were Jackson Ulrich 28th (16:32), and Sam Sturgeon 30th (18:11). Competing for the girls were Cara Porter 12th (16:15), Abie Mewies 13th (16:28), Jillian Ward (17:55), and Rebekah Coltrane 18th (18:56).
Those competing in the high school JV races only two-mile competitions. Elsie Fleming finished as the fastest Fillie, placing sixth (18:46).Madi Robertson placed right behind Fleming in seventh, and Skyler Walden came in 11th (22:06). Only two boys represented the blue and gold, Luke Wicoff placed sixth (14:13), and Travis Wanker finished eighth (14:19).
The varsity girls displayed a strong performance, finishing third overall behind F.R. Whitewater and Douglas. Competing for the Fillies were Ella Taylor 12th (23:42), Callie Murcko 22nd (26:25), Jorja Murcko 27th (28:17), Elaina Stiffler (29:30), and Kaylin Klubek 34th (33:35).
Jesse Taylor finished as the fastest varsity boy, posting his best time of the season (19:12), and placing 12th. As a team, the Mustangs finished eighth. Other runners competing were Brett Morrison 27th (20:07), Eli Adams 47th (22:07), Colin Long 58th (23:35), Grant Luedke 59th (24:07), and Eli Smith 61st (27:45). Smith expressed his frustrations over the injury riddled season for Drake DeLaTorre, who is still hindered by his hip. Smith hopes DeLaTorre will be ready for the Mustangs Pioneer League meet.
Varsity runners were scheduled to run in Independence on Thursday. Scheduled thunderstorms led to the cancellation of Thursdays meet, despite no rain ultimately falling. Smith expressed his disappointment with the cancelation, and was hopeful to earn the chance to compete against Independence, a team he believes will challenge Iola at regionals.
NEXT UP for Iola cross country will be the Pioneer League Meet, scheduled for Oct. 17
