Topeka -- Free State High's girls cross country team seems to be picking up speed.
The Firebirds finished first in the Topeka Seaman Invitational on Saturday with a team score of 43 points. Olathe East was second at 86 and Northern Heights third with 89.
"I think the girls are really starting to take off now," FSHS coach Steve Heffernan said. "They've been getting better all year. I think they're starting to realize their potential. They showed that today."
Junior Jackie Dubois led Free State, finishing fifth in 12 minutes, 18 seconds. Senior Betsy Lee (sixth place, 12:25) and junior Sarah Underwood (seventh, 12:29) also cracked the top 10.
All seven of the Firebirds' varsity runners finished in the top 20, including senior Heather McCullough (12th, 12:48), senior Jamie Mitchell (13th, 12:49), freshman Mallory Richardson (16th, 12:56) and senior Laura Gagnon (18th, 13:04).
"Not a lot of surprises," Heffernan said. "Everyone is doing real well. We do have a freshman girl, Mallory Richardson (a Central Junior High student), who has been coming along. She's knocked two minutes off her time since the start of the year."
Free State's boys team finished fourth with 98 points, behind Emporia (53), Seaman (71) and Topeka Washburn Rural (83).
"I really felt the JV boys ran a great race," Heffernan said of the second-place squad. "The varsity guys are still struggling to put five good races together. Aaron Paul (fourth, 17:02) had a good race today, him and Adam Brunfeldt (10th, 17:26). Both had personal best times."
Free State's next meet is next Saturday at the Shawnee Heights Invitational.
"The boys won the meet last year so I think they're excited to go back and defend their title," Heffernan said. "The girls should continue with their winning ways in the next meet. They're really starting to hit their stride."
No comments
Commenting is turned off for this story.