State CC: SCHS makes run at 3A, Dodge City teams at 6A

The Scott City and Lakin boys, as well as the Scott City and Cimarron girls, all ran in the Class 3A State Cross Country Championships at the Wamego Country Club on Saturday.

Both Scott City teams were Top 3 worthy, the boys placed third while the girls finished second to Southeast of Saline and just in front of the Lady Jays.

Colby's Laura Murdock led a 1-3 finish for Lady Eagle runners, winning the 3A Girls meet in 19:37. Murdock, a senior, was joined in the Top 3 by freshman teammate Kathie Chavez. In between them was splendid sophomore Ozia Trujillo of Southwestern Heights, making for a Top 3 sweep for area schools.

Scott City showcased their depth, with six runners in the Top 26 of scoring harriers in the meet. Only five of them count toward the team score. Freshman Brinlie Stevens (24th/9th) led the way for the Beavers, with junior Clare Hawkins (32nd/11th), freshman Emma Wheeler (40th/17th), senior Megan Vance (46th/20th) and junior Kairae berry (46th/21st) scoring for Scott City, who also had freshmen Macy Brown and Katherine Rogers run at state.

Cimarron (89 points) finished 11 points behind SCHS for 2nd, and 27 points behind champion Southeast of Saline. Courtney Clinesman, running in her final meet as a senior, finished 18th overall, but scored 5th among team runners. Also scoring for the lady Jays were freshman Veronica Greene (33rd/12th), sophomore Gracie Millershas (36th/14th), senior Macy Fugitt (56th/28th) and freshman Alexa English (58th/30th). Juniors Brooklyn Buehue and Wendy Medina also ran at state.

Other area runners were Seanna Metcalf of Colby - who finished 9th overall, Yanely Puentes of Southwestern Heights and Jordan Ortiz of Lakin. All three are underclassmen.

In the 3A Boys Meet, while Southeast of Saline was holding off Smoky Valley for the team title, the Beavers put together a solid team effort to finish third. lakin also qualified as a team and placed 7th out of 12 scoring teams.

Senior Roberto Apodaca finished 11th overall, but was sixth aming scoring runners to lead Scott City. Also scoring for the Beavers was junior Jason Kough (24th/14th), sophomore Joseph McCleary (30th/17th), freshman Aaron Armendariz (53rd/31st) and freshman Kevin Dominguez-P (56th/32nd). Also running for the beavers were freshmen Bryndan Bailey and Dylan Duff.

Lakin was led by senior Edwin Garcia, who placed 9th overall and was 4th among runners on teams scoring at state. Also scoring for Lakin was sophomore Lawson Weilert-B (16th/9th), seniors Dominick Daniels (47th/28th) and Ty Davidson (58th/33rd), and sophomore Orrin Norris (101st/69th). Senior Ethan Horton and Sophomore Pablo Arreola also ran for the Broncs.

Other area runners were led by Cimarron senior Damion Santisev, who was the best finisher of all area runners with an 8th-place finish. Also running at state was junior Branden Stanfield of Southwestern Heights and junior Braxton Sizemore of Holcomb.

Class 4A

Ulysses sent two runners to the state meet, also at Wamego, with freshman Cole Krug in the boys meet, and senior Yessenia Ornelas in the girls meet.

Class 6A

While both Dodge City teams qualified for the Class 6A State Cross Country Championships in Augusta, it was a pair of Garden City runners who took top area honors.

A pair of Buffalo sophomores - Davin Chappel and Jocelyn Sosa - stole some of the thunder, each coming up with the best finishes for area harriers. Chappel finished 12th in the boys race, while Sosa placed 24th overall in the girls race. senior Brody Huff also ran in the boys race for Garden City.

The other area girls runners not qualified with a team was Liberal freshman Daniela Cedra and senior Halle Peyton.

For Dodge City, their top finisher in the Boys race was junior Martin Marquez. Also on the Dodge City team were scoring runners, seniors Alex Chavez-Mendez, Eduardo Hernandez and Angel Landeros, sophomore David Ultreras. Seniors Oziel Martinez and Gerrardo Ramirez also ran at state.

In the girls' race, Dodge City was paced by junior Serenity Larson. Also scoring for the red Demons were junior Norma Rodriguez, sophomore Andrea Yates, junior Daisy Orozco and senior Karina Herrera. Also running for Dodge City were senior Anna Ridgeway and junior Yessica Dozal.