FSHS senior runners go 1-2-3 at Baldwin

The conditions were far from ideal at the Baldwin Invitational on Saturday morning. Rain from previous days meant the course was filled with mud. As a result, there were multiple instances of runners losing their shoe or even falling down in the mud.

But those conditions didn’t seem to bother Free State High senior Emily Venters, who won the girls’ race by 45 seconds. She was followed by her teammates, seniors Kiran Cordes and Abigail Zenger, who placed second and third.

The seniors 1-2-3 finish highlighted the FSHS girls cross country team’s team title.

“It’s nice to be out there with my teammates right behind me,” Venters said. “I went into it with the same mindset as if the course were dry.”

Firebirds’ coach Steve Heffernan was pleased with the results across the board, which included three more medalists. Sophomore Julia Larkin placed sixth, sophomore Emma Hertig took 14th and freshman Erin Fagan was 18th.

“It’s fun,” said Venters, who won in 18:35. “It’s fun to have a good team. We’re excited for the rest of the season.”

On the boys’ side, Heffernan said the team is gaining experience each meet since it only has one senior on varsity, and their best days are likely ahead of them, but Saturday was a pretty good day for them too.

Led by three medalists, the FSHS boys finished in third place as a team.

Junior Avant Edwards led the way with a second-place finish, and he was just two seconds out of first place in 16:54. Sophomore Landon Sloan placed 11th and junior Jared Hicks finished 13th.

“Anytime we can get a medalist and be competitive in front of that we’re happy,” Heffernan said. “We gained some really big experience with our three new guys.”

But things will get much tougher for the Firebirds next Saturday when they race in the KU Invitational at Rim Rock Farm at 8:30 a.m.

“We’re going to be running against the best competition we’ve seen all year,” Heffernan said. “I think they’re ready for it. They have enough experience to where they know what’s going on.”

The Lawrence High boys cross country team finished in fifth place, while the girls took seventh. Junior Carson Jumping Eagle, who placed 18th, led the boys and sophomore Anna DeWitt, who placed 19th, led the girls.

Both runners were able to run their best times of the season despite the muddy conditions.

“I was just trying not to fall,” Jumping Eagle said. “Also, I was trying to work with Garrett (Prescott). I felt like I ran well.”

LHS coach Laura Koster was pleased with how her team performed, and is encouraged with their constant improvement ahead of their toughest meet of the season at the KU Invitational next week.

“I think we’re looking pretty good,” Koster said. “We’ve had the fastest times we’ve had compared to last year.”

Baldwin High’s boys and girls cross country teams both placed sixth. Jacob Bailey (seventh place) and Max Tuckfield (16th) medaled for the boys, while Natalie Beiter (17th) was the only medalist for the girls.

Baldwin Invitational

Saturday at Baldwin Golf Course

Boys 5K

Varsity team scores: Shawnee Mission East 47, Olathe South 49, Free State 68, St. Thomas Aquinas 99, Lawrence 140, Baldwin 143, Topeka West 196, Topeka High, 201.

FSHS results: 2. Avant Edwards, 16:54; 11. Landon Sloan, 17:40; 13. Jared Hicks, 17:43; 26. William Benkelman, 18:17; 28. Grant Holmes, 18:19; 30. Aidan Goertz, 18:22; 41. Zach Venters, 18:59.

LHS results: 18. Carson Jumping Eagle, 17:57; 23. Garrett Prescott, 18:10; 31. Cole Shupert, 18:22; 45. Sebastian Lepage, 19:18; 50. Ben Otte, 19:40; 53. Cameron Stussie, 19:53; Keaton Hoy, 20:12.

Baldwin results: 7. Jacob Bailey, 17:17; 16. Max Tuckfield, 17:47; 42. Henry Letner, 19:02; 52. Jayce Dighans, 19:51; 55. Hayden Burkhart, 20:01; 57. Sam Schumann, 20:03; 62. Will Harvey, 20:18; Riley Russell, 21:18.

Girls 5K

Varsity team scores: Free State 25, Shawnee Mission East 65, St. Thomas Aquinas 70, Shawnee Mission West 85, Shawnee Heights 148, Baldwin 153, Lawrence 185, Olathe South, 187.

FSHS results: 1. Emily Venters, 18:35; 2. Kiran Cordes, 19:20; 3. Abigail Zenger, 20:11; 6. Julia Larkin, 20:36; 15. Emma Hertig, 21:01; 18. Erin Fagan, 21:14; 23. Erin Liston, 21:30.

LHS results: 19. Anna DeWitt, 21:14; 29. Kiikto Thomas, 21:57; 40. Leslie Ostronic, 22:46; 54. Layne Prescott, 24:01; 55. Sophie DeWitt, 24:05; 57. Katie Ahern, 24:28, 58. Olivia Lemus, 24:43.

Baldwin results: 17. Natalie Beiter, 21:06; 32. Taylor Cawley, 22:13; 33. Daelynn Anderson, 22:23; 34. Maiki Martinez, 22:32; 43. Makenna Orton, 22:55; 49. Lucy Hoffman, 23:21; 52. Savita Flory, 23:52; 53. Calyn Johnson, 23:57.