LAWRENCE — Iola High’s Mustangs finished 17th in the Blue Division of the University of Kansas’ Rim Rock high school cross country meet Saturday. There were more than 3,200 runners from more than 125 schools from Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Iowa.
Roman Yocham led the Mustangs with a 61st place finish. He ran the 3.1-mile course in 18 minutes, 18 seconds. Trent Latta was 76th in 18:28 and Jeremy Spears placed 93rd in 18:40.
Christian Kauth was Iola’s No. 4 runner, taking 110th in 18:56 and Tyler Powelson ran 113th in 18:58.
Michael Wilson ran his first varsity race for Iola and was 178th. His time was 20:19 in a race of 229 runners.
“This course has some very rough hills and I was pleased with our times and our spacing,” said Marvin Smith, IHS head coach.
There were 207 runners in the girls’ race. Sydney Owens finished 124th in 18:59 for the 2.5-mile race. Jo Lohman was 163rd in 19:57 and Kelsey Larson placed 185th in 21:11.
“I wanted Sydney to have the Rim Rock experience since it is her senior year and I wanted Jo to have it in case the next Iola coach chooses not to go to this race,” Smith said.
“The 2.5 miles is a tough distance for Kelsey even without the steep hills. She ran her best time.”
