INDEPENDENCE — Roman Yocham and two freshmen continue to lead Iola High’s Mustangs to team medals on the cross country circuit.
The Mustangs collected second-place team medals at Thursday’s Independence High Invitational cross country meet. Labette County was first with 44 points and Iola had 62 points. Arkansas City grabbed third with 70 points.
Yocham, a junior, had to push himself a bit more than other races, according to Iola High head coach Marvin Smith.
“Roman didn’t get out with the leaders so he wasn’t running relaxed. He was in seventh for much of the first mile,” Smith said of the boys’ varsity 5K race.
“Roman really had to ‘race’ Thursday and caught Finley of Labette County the last half mile. Roman had the
better sprint at the end.”
Yocham crossed the line in second place, running the distance in 17 minutes, 43 seconds. Austin Bogina of Northeast Arma won the race in 17:07.
The two freshmen for Iola are Trent Latta and Tyler Powelson. Latta turned in an 11th-place medal performance in 19:04, staying with Yocham during the first part of the race.
Powelson came in at 19:47 for 19th. Senior Dylan Lower placed 20th in 19:51 and junior Bryan Miller was 21st in 19:54. Freshman Michael Armstrong ran his second 5K race and was 26th in 20:08.
“Those four ran as a pack from beginning to end and they really helped each other stay near the front of the race,” Smith said.
Iola’s varsity was without junior Christian Kauth and sophomore Jordan Strickler. Both are out with injuries.
Junior Sydney Owens paced the Fillies to a fourth-place team finish. Owens earned the 11th-place medal in the girls’ varsity race.
Owens ran the 4K distance in 17:55. Seniors Leah Weir, Kristen Linn, Abby Works and Jamie Spears finished out the team scoring.
Weir, who competed even though she was ill, ran 22nd in 19:18. Linn was 29th in 20:27. Works took 32nd in 20:44 and Spears was 36th in 21:46.
Next Thursday the Fillies and Mustangs run at Big Hill Lake near Parsons in the Southeast Kansas League meet.
Mustangs and Fillies run second, fourth at Independence meet
