LHS, FSHS: League tuneup for state

Today might be only the Sunflower League meet for the Lawrence and Free State high schools’ cross-country teams at Rim Rock Farm, but both squads’ coaches said this meet would carry a lot of weight since state will be contested at the same spot in two weeks.

“This can be a good confidence meet, and if any mistakes do pop up, we at least have two more weeks to correct them,” Firebirds coach Steve Heffernan said. “It’s pretty important, though, that we go out and have a good meet since we’ll be running Rim Rock again.”

The 12-team meet begins at 9 a.m., with junior varsity teams running first. Varsity girls will run at 10 a.m., followed by the boys at 10:30.

Lawrence High coach Chip Anderson also said he felt strongly about having success today with state just around the corner.

“This meet will tell us a lot because several of the strongest teams we’ll be racing at state are right here in our own league,” Anderson said. “We’re still trying to get our final seven runners lined up for state, so some of our younger runners will still have the opportunity to step up and make the final lineup.”

The LHS girls have a legitimate shot at winning the team competition because they are ranked in the top 10 in Class 6A.

Anderson said that his four standout runners from each grade level — freshman Kelly Renfro, sophomore Brianna Dilorio, junior Megan Johnson, and senior Alison Greer — were going to have to “continue to run like they have in the last few meets, but it will take a special effort out of our younger runners if we’re going to be among the top teams.”

Free State’s boys and girls — who also are ranked among the state’s best — could pull out team titles, but it’s probably more likely that the Firebirds have an individual champion.

Today may be the best shot for standout Alysha Valencia — who was sixth at state as a sophomore — to claim her first Sunflower League title.

On the boys’ side, Danny Schneider, a longtime track athlete who still is relatively new to cross country, has improved steadily, Heffernan said.