LAWRENCE — Iola High’s Mustang cross country team placed 11th in the Blue Division at the University of Kansas’s high school invitational meet at Rimrock Saturday.
Roman Yocham captured sixth in the 5K race in 17 minutes, 2 seconds. Only one Kansas runner placed ahead of him.
“There were 160 runners in the race and it is easy to get trapped at the start if you do not go out fast,” said Marvin Smith, Iola High cross country coach.
“Roman went out with the leaders and was in 12th place by the one-mile mark. He was in the 6-10 pack with 400 meters to go and had enough speed to pull away but was too far back to catch a runner from Iowa.”
Iola was the third school from Kansas behind two private schools. Kearney, Neb. won the Blue Division. Smith said some of the top Kansas 4A schools elected to run in the Gold Division.
Iola’s No. 2 runner was Trent Latta taking 50th in 18:29. Smith said he was only 10 seconds from 40th with a very good race on a difficult course.
Christian Kauth placed 84th in 19:09 and Dylan Lower took 91st in 19:21. Tyler Powelson placed 95th in 19:26 and Bryan Miller was 117th in 19:57.
Iola runs at the Central Heights Invitational in Richmond Thursday.
Mustangs finish 11th in Rimrock Blue
