Young Jayhawk runners open season at Anderson County

Jayhawk senior Simon Shillito powers his way up the final hill in the varsity 5K cross country run at Garnett Country Club on Thursday, Sept. 5. He took 11th place in the run. (Roger Sims / Linn County Journal)

By Roger Sims, rsims@linncountyjournal.com

GARNETT – The Jayhawk-Linn cross country team lost several of its veteran runners to graduation in May. However, on Thursday, Sept. 5, younger runners stepped up despite the 90-plus-degree heat at the Anderson County meet.

Senior Simon Shillito and his brother Louis Shillito, a sophomore, along with freshman Daniel Brake comprised the Jayhawk boys varsity team that competed at the Garnett Country Club.

Simon Shillito took 11th place for a medal with a time of 18.59.80; Louis Shillito placed 20th with a time of 19:40.40; and Brake was 25th with a time of 19:55.20.

Lily Meyer, a freshman, steps up and turns in the fastest time for the Jayhawk girls varsity team. (Roger Sims / Linn County Journal)

Freshman Lily Meyer led the varsity Jayhawk girls runners with a 23:45.80 time, good enough for a 17th place finish. Fellow freshman Allie Thomas placed 23rd with a time of 25:11.00; and senior Brylee Doleshal placed 27th with a time of 25:52.60.

The Jayhawk boys junior varsity team was one runner away from taking first place medals home. Teams that field five runners are eligible for the team honors, and the Jayhawks were one short. However, every member on the junior varsity team medaled at the meet.

Sophomore Kollyn Malinowsky, center, keeps even pace with his teammates Truman Schneider, left, and Jayden Mayhugh in the junior varsity race. Malinowsky would go on to win the race.  (Roger Sims / Linn County Journal)

Kollyn Malinowsky, a sophomore, ran the 5K course in the time of 21:00.20 for a first-place medal. Junior Truman Schneider placed fourth with a tie of 21:58.21; sophomore Landon Higgins ran the course in 22:24.00, good enough for seventh; and freshman Jayden Mayhugh placed 10th with a time of 23:01.00.

For the girls junior varsity team, two freshmen and a junior all took home a medal. Freshman Gabby Parsons received a second-place medal with a time 24:43.90; Junior Adeline Randall was third with a time of 25:18.30; and freshman Haelie Wallace placed 10th with a time of 27:28.60.

Members of the Jayhawk girls cross country team show their medals. (Jayhawk USD 346 Facebook.)