Jayhawk runners bring home state runner-up trophy

Members of the Jayhawk-Linn cross country team pose with the state runner-up trophy and medals following a strong performance at the Class 2A cross country championship meet. Runners include from left, Martin Shillito, Sawyer Champlin, Louis Shillito, Myles Alvarez, Jayden Mayhugh, Lily Meyer, Landon Higgins, and Kollyn Mainowski. ( Photo by Andy Mayhugh / Special to the Journal)

By Roger Sims, Journal staff

linncountyjournal@icloud.com

The Jayhawk-Linn boys cross country team earned the title of Class 2A runner-up state champs on Saturday, Oct. 31, at the state meet at Wamego. And the lone Lady Jayhawk runner walked away with a top 20 finish and a medal.

Like Rim Rock, the Kansas University home cross country course north of Lawrence where some of the other state meets were held, the Wamego course is very hilly and difficult, according the Jayhawk head coach Shawn Thomas. This year, however, course officials made changes to the course that rendered it even more challenging.

“They actually changed it this year and added some elements that made it even tougher than it used to be, and it’s always been pretty tough,” he said.

“l thought we might have a chance to win it,” Thomas said, “but we didn’t have everything go our way. But with the things that did happen, our kids held their poise and responded really, really well.

Assistant coach Juanita Spitzenberger urges runners to catch the competitor ahead of them. (Photo by Andy Mayhugh / Special to the Journal)

“Tough performances by our kids put them in a spot to do well at the end, and I was really proud of them.”

While the runners did not set any personal best times in the race, Thomas said that there were runners who ran their fastest race of the season.

Winning at team berth at state after winning the regional at Waubunsee, the Jayhawk boys had a team score from their five best runners of 131 points, 23 points behind Trinity Catholic High School from Hutchinson score of 108.

The team did not have any top 20 finishers, but the closeness of the finishes propelled them to the runner-up status.

Senior Myles Alvarez, who has consistently finished in the top 10 in area meets, came in 22nd with a time of 17:52.60. Senior Kollyn Malinowski was just behind at 17:56.50. Sophomore Martin Shillito was 41st at 18:21.30, and senior Landon Higgins was 66th with a time of 18:53.30. Senior Louis Shillito rounded out the Jayhawks top five with a 72nd place finish with a time of 19:02.40.

Lily Meyer stretches out her stride as her teammates cheer her on at the state cross country race. (Photo by Mike Meyer / Special to the Journal)

Freshman Sawyer Champlin and junior Jayden Mayhugh finished 77th and 79th respectively, with Champlin’s time of 19:13 just seconds ahead of Mayhugh’s 19:22.

The number of runners finishing the Class 2A race was 109 with only 12 teams having the required five runners to be able to post a team score.

Junior Lily Meyer was the only Jayhawk girl to qualify for state, but she placed 19th out of 100 runners with a time of 20:59.03. Meyer has fairly consistently finished in the top five of area meets throughout the season, and she was the only Jayhawk runner to walk away from state competition with an individual medal.

In a sport that favors taller runners with longer legs, Meyer’s height could be seen as a drawback. But Thomas said she more than compensates for lack of height with something else.

“She tough,” he said of his top girl runner. “She’s just tough.”