Three All-SEK runners and three runners earning league honorable mention is not bad for the final Southeast Kansas League cross country meet in Iola High’s history.
Sure, it would have been a great end to a long storied tradition in SEK cross country for the Iola High Mustangs or Fillies to win one more league meet title. That wasn’t in the cards for Iola and its longtime head coach Marvin Smith.
“Our top four guys had standout races. We had strong races out of top two girls. I think our kids had fun yesterday. I know I did,” said Smith. “Driving the Kuboda truck (a four-wheel vehicle) was like being a kid again playing with my toy car.”
Chanute High’s boys and girls swept the 2011 SEK varsity team titles. Iola’s boys claimed the junior varsity championship by two points, 33 to 35, over Labette County.
Chanute’s boys picked up the team championship with 42 points, just ahead of Labette County with 47 points.
The Mustangs took third with 54 points, followed by Independence with 111, Parsons with 119 and Pittsburg with 147.
Drew Baun and David Geer of Labette County held steady in front of the boys’ varsity race. Baun is the league champion in winning the 5K race in 16 minutes, 51 seconds. Geer was second in 16:53.
Two-time defending SEK champion Roman Yocham, Iola senior, earned the fourth-place medal. Yocham ran the race on his home course in 17:37.
Sophomores Trent Latta and Jeremy Spears garnered All-SEK honors along with Yocham. Latta finished sixth in 17:50 and Spears was ninth in 18:28. Tyler Powelson, another sophomore, ended 13th in 18:41 for honorable mention.
“Roman and Trent had their best races of the year but I was especially happy for Jeremy,” Smith said. “He has gone from being the SEK JV champion last year to getting an SEK varsity medal. Tyler moved from 22nd last year to just 10 seconds out of a top 10 finish.”
Chanute’s girls dominated the varsity race with 26 points. Pittsburg was second with 57 followed by Independence at 78 and Labette at 84.
The Fillies finished fifth with 123 points. Fort Scott and Parsons had no team score.
Fort Scott sophomore Katren Rienbolt ran away from the varsity girls’ field. She won the 4K race through Iola’s Riverside Park in 15:59 seconds. Chanute’s Maddison Dispensa and Jocelyn McMillen-Hale were second and third in 16:22 and 16:29.
Iola freshman Jo Lohman ran her best time by almost one minute in leading the Fillies. Lohman finished 19th in 18:21 and senior Sydney Owens was 20th in 18:37. Both earned SEK honorable mention.
Ten medals are up for grabs in each race. The top 10 varsity runners earn All-SEK honors and 11-20 are honorable mention.
