Firebird runners build depth

Free State High cross country coach Steve Heffernan knows what to expect out of his top two girls runners — juniors Emily Venters and Kiran Cordes — but there has been a lot of movement from No. 3 through 7 for the rest of the varsity team this season.

The freshmen trio of Sarah Walpole, Julia Larkin and Emma Hertig stepped up for the Firebirds on Saturday, along with Venters and Cordes, as Free State edged Olathe East by three points to win the Haskell Indian Nations Invite.

“Our freshmen have been a big piece to our success this year because of some injuries to some of our upperclassmen,” Heffernan said.

While Hertig finished fifth overall on the Free State roster, she actually finished as the top runner on the Firebirds’ junior varsity team in the combined varsity/JV race. Hertig out-kicked three OE varsity runners in the final 50 meters to add three decisive points to the Hawks’ team score.

“That was definitely a challenge,” Hertig said of the unique uphill finish, “but it felt good passing them, though.”

Venters raced her way to an individual title with a 5,000-meter time of 18:28.89, and Cordes came in third at 19:14.43. The FSHS juniors went out at the same pace with OE senior Kayla Davis for the first mile and a half, but Venters pulled away after that.

“My race plan has been the same since the third meet, just hanging with the front pack until about the halfway point and then pushing it,” Venters said. “Then just what Heff says, ‘Push it with your heart.’ Just run with your heart at that point.”

Although Venters pulled away from Davis and Cordes in the middle stage of the race, Cordes said that being able to stay in the front three helped her feel strong throughout.

“It was like a slower start, which was nice,” Cordes said, “and then I had more energy toward the end.”

After the Hawks fell just short of beating the Firebirds in the girls race, OE’s boys squad showed its depth to the take the team title over FSHS.

Olathe East senior Nick Skinner set the pace from wire to wire on his way to a winning time of 15:57.07. Free State senior Ethan Donley was the runner-up with a personal-record time of 16:05.49 and credited Skinner for bringing the best out of him.

“He’s been running pretty fast this year, so I wanted to kind of stay with him and see what that would take me to,” Donley said. “I figured it would take me to a fast time, so it was great.”

OE’s Ben Kahnk and Free State senior Tanner Hockenbury followed Donley in third and fourth, respectively, but the Hawks sealed their win by packing four runners within 18 seconds of each other from fifth through eighth place.

Free State sophomores Avant Edwards and Jared Hicks were not far behind that Hawks pack at 17:02.85 and 17:18.64, respectively, which was an encouraging sign to Hockenbury.

“It’s good for them. I think they need the competition, and it only shows them what’s out there,” Hockenbury, who clocked in at 16:33.83, said. “You can be a stud younger runner for your age, but then you get into high school, and you realize what competition there really is.”

The Firebirds will see the Hawks and a much deeper field Saturday for the Sunflower League meet at Rim Rock Farm.

Baker men third

Prior to the Firebirds running in the high school division of the Haskell Invite, several area collegiate runners from Kansas University (unattached), Baker and HINU ran in the men’s and women’s races.

KU mid-distance runner Whitney Adams placed fourth in the women’s 5K with a time of 19:04.26. Fellow Jayhawk mid-distance specialist Anthonio Humphrey Jr. took 14th in the men’s 8K. KU did not have a team score in either race since all of its runners were competing unattached.

The Baker men placed third out of 10 teams, with sophomore Joe Linder leading the way with an 8,000-meter time of 27:19.80. Freshman Jenna Black clocked in with a 5,000-meter time of 20:45.08 to help Baker’s women’s squad take eighth out of the 12-team field.

Haskell fielded three runners apiece in the men’s and women’s races. Cherica Eckiwaudah placed 69th in the women’s race with a time of 22:58.17. Derrick Sleeper paced the HINU men with a time of 31:54.20, good for 74th place.

Haskell Invite

Saturday at Haskell Indian Nations University

High School Girls Varsity/JV team scores – Free State varsity 29, Olathe East varsity 32, Olathe East JV 92, Free State JV 105, Manhattan varsity 123, Manhattan JV 178.

Free State results – 1. Emily Venters, 18:28.89; 3. Kiran Cordes, 19:14.43; 5. Sarah Walpole, 20:00.30; 6. Julia Larkin, 20:01.50; 10. Emma Hertig, 20:49.23; 14. Kate Odgers, 21:00.58; 16. Abby Zenger, 21:08.85; 19. Reagan Sullivan 21:21.52; 21. Alvena Walpole, 21:49.86; 24. Eyerusalem Zicker, 22:07.54; 25. Madelyn Johnson, 22:09.91; 27. Marcela Ellebracht, 22:11.92; 29. Grace Bradshaw, 22:37.25; 30. Leah Wethington, 22:44.49; 31. Bekah Keys, 22:51.88.

High School Boys Varsity/JV team scores – Olathe East varsity 22, Free State varsity 45, Olathe East JV 72, Manhattan varsity 116, Oaks Mission (Oklahoma) varsity 132, Free State JV 158, Manhattan JV 194.

Free State results – 2. Ethan Donley, 16:05.49; 4. Tanner Hockenbury, 16:33.83; 9. Avant Edwards, 17:02.85; 12. Jared Hicks, 17:18.64; 18. Grant Holmes, 17:50.12; 23. Avery Allen, 18:14.82; 24. Will Benkelman, 18:20.75; 25. Calvin Yost-Wolff, 18:26.07; 28. Eli Jost, 18:29.41; 31. Josh Waisner, 18:31.98; 36. Zach Lockwood, 19:03.28; 40. Cam Edgecomb, 19:25.75; 41. John Walpole, 19:27.87; 48. Josh Kallenbach, 21:25.36.

College Women’s 5K team scores – Benedictine 37, Truman State 46, MidAmerica Nazarene 96, Park 133, Rockhurst 137, MCC-Longview 149, Ottawa 175, Baker 202, Avila 249, Highland CC 266, Graceland 303, Peru State 317.

Area results – 4. Whitney Adams, Kansas-unattached, 19:04.26; 10. Rhavean King, Kansas-unattached, 19:24.82; T-35. Jenna Black, Baker, 20:45.08; 37. Brenda McCollum, Baker, 20:46.26; 41. Madison Dispensa, Baker, 20:55.53; 61. Rachel Campbell, Baker, 22:17.26; 63. Caitlin Apollo, Baker, 22:28.32; 64. Vanessa Johnson, Haskell-Alumni, 22:39.98; 69. Cherica Eckiwaudah, Haskell, 22:58.17; 79. Chamisa McCray, Haskell-Alumni, 23:48.38; 87. Amanda Moody, Baker, 24:46.92; 89. Adree Shield, Haskell, 25:01.00; 95. Nahtonabah Smith, 26:13.68.

College Men’s 8K team scores – Truman State 29, Benedictine 57, Baker 97, Park 112, MidAmerica Nazarene 115, Missouri Valley 125, Ottawa 205, Graceland 229, Haskell-Alumni 264, Avila 265.

Area results – 2. Benjamin Wellwood, KU Running Club, 25:50.90; 13. Joe Linder, Baker, 27:19.80; 14. Anthonio Humphrey Jr., Unattached-Kansas, 27:20.46; 18. Corey Matteson, Baker, 27:29.79; 24. Carlos Guszman, KU Running Club, 27:46.10; 27. Gunnar Hays, Baker, 27:58.05; 29. Jamie Steury, Baker, 28:05.14; 31. Matt Anyiwo, Unattached-Kansas, 28:09.87; 32. Andrew Emanuels, Baker, 28:10.99; 38. Andrew Dare, Baker, 28:26.25; 47. Stephen Deveau, Baker, 29:02.15; 48. Chad Atteitz, Haskell-Alumni, 29:15.98; 51. Thomas Zunie, Haskell-Alumni, 29:35.09; 55. Tanner Wilson, Unattached-Kansas, 29:43.55; 57. Josh Bostick, Baker, 30:00.62; 62. Leon Cambridge, Unattached-Kansas, 30:20.92; 71. Cole Stallard, Baker, 30:55.65; 74. Derrick Sleeper, Haskell, 31:54.20; 76. John Grant, Haskell, 32:35.37; 80. Tyler Randall, Baker, 33:00.79; 81. Dion Joky, Haskell-Alumni, 33:07.46; 82. David Crowe, KU Running Club, 33:13.44; 88. Deion Henry, Haskell, 36:20.11; 89. Bryn Fragua, Haskell-Alumni, 36:55.66; 90. Harlan Harvey, Haskell-Alumni, 37:13.84; 94. Len Becenti, Haskell-Alumni, 39:59.45.

High School Girls C-team team scores – Olathe East 19, Free State 44, Manhattan 85.

Free State results – 3. Joy Bradshaw, 22:42.52; 12. Sydney Zavala, 23:03.59; 12 Bella Decker, 24:10.84; 13. Brinna Day, 24:10.88; 14. Sydney Zimmerman, 24:12.19; 18. Corinne Scales, 24:33.53; 21. Christina Craig, 24:51.01; 24. Haylen Boden, 24:58.89; 26. Abigail Meier, 25:20.19; 29. Ashley Giago, 26:17.22; 32. Taylor Mosher, 26:27.39; 34. Caitlin McAndrew-Beckman, 27:00.54; 35. Gretchen Boxberger, 27:17.33; 37. Lexie Lockwood, 28:02.36; 40. Sarah Kelly, 28:39.10; 44. Ruby Morris, 32:10.57; 45. Molly Reed, 32:10.57; 46. Jessica Ellebracht, 33:52.95.

High School Boys C-team team scores – Olathe East 23, Free State 33, Manhattan 85.

Free State results – 2. Lochi Sampson, 18:54.66; 11. Seth Allen, 19:33.46; 13. Evan Eskilson, 19:53.30; 14. Raiyan Haq, 20:04.77; 15. Shane Friedrichsen, 20:05.91; 16. Cooper Simon, 20:06.17; 17. Dash Spears, 20:14.84; 19. Finnegan Huerter, 20:23.70; 23. Alex Pettit, 20:37.04; 27. Quinton Westphal, 20:52.92; 28. Trey Melvin, 20:54.74; 30. Declan Forth, 21:01.82; 31. Tyler Winsor, 21:01.98; 32. Benjamin Hill, 21:06.42; 34. Micah Burman, 21:10.43; 37. Chris Wilkus, 21:33.10; 40. Noah Gold, 21:39.95; 42. John Baska, 21:41.35; 44. Jeremiah Seibel, 21:43.26; 46. Evan Stewart, 21:51.97; 47. Nathan Robbins, 21:59.62; 48. Skylar Eklund, 22:07.91; 49. Daniel Fasching, 22:16.32; 50. Illa Schaeffer, 22:17.03; 53. Hunter Rea, 22:37.87; 55. Milo Schoenen, 22:39.62; 56. Gabriel Kennard, 22:40.60; 57. Ryan Flakus, 22:41.47; 59. Brett Carey, 22:42.58; 60. Chris Blevins, 22:42.86; 61. Eli Heffernan, 22:45.85; 62. Dylan Sommer, 22:49.24; 63. Spencer Yost-Wolff, 22:51.93; 64. Tom Riggs, 23:08.01; 68. Dylan Goldstein, 23:26.16; 72. Lincoln Egdecomb, 23:40.68; 73. Aidan Nesbitt-Daly, 23:41.54; 74. Adam Ziegler, 23:42.95; 75. Thomas All, 24:05.77; 77. Tre Byers, 24:12.58; 80. Liam Berns, 24:29.38; 81. Alexi Sommerville, 24:33.02; 83. Matthew Meseke, 24:38.83; 85. Kyler Ruby, 26:03.38; 86. Walker Koberlein, 26:18.07; 87. Luke Winchester, 26:46.88; 88. Elijah Denmark, 26:52.45; 90. Andy Riggs, 31:59.18.