By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Great Bend senior Kaiden Esfeld ran third at state last October. With the two runners ahead of him gone to graduation, Esfeld is now on an even shorter list to contend for a state title later this fall. Thursday he set the tone for the season, setting a Lake Barton course record for his first win of the season. Addy Nicholson, Marissa Boone, and Eliana Beckham had top-four finishes to lead the Lady Panthers to the win.
Esfeld won by 33 seconds in 16:09.6, beating out Garden City senior Devin Chappel, last year's fourth-place finisher in Class 6A. The Panthers fielded a full team for the first time since last year's home opener, scoring 171 points for sixth. Garden City dominated the meet, placing all five scorers in the top seven for just 23 points.
Panther sophomore Ismael Ramirez ran 36th in 19:54, followed by junior Thomas Henrikson in 41st in 20:25, and junior Braylon Moore in 21:04 in 50th. Junior Bradon Suppes capped team scoring in 53rd with a time of 21:49.
The junior Nicholson paced the girls' race in 20:41.3, with Boone following in 20:51 for the silver. Beckham ran fourth in 21:36 to miss the bronze by 13 seconds. Sophomore Reese King missed the top-10 by three seconds in 22:15, and sophomore Kate Welcher capped team scoring in 21st. Welcher missed the top-20 by less than half a second in 23:03.4 after a late push to catch reigning state qualifier Olivia Mancino-Hinde from Salina South at the finish line.
Great Bend finished with 37 points for the team victory. Garden City placed second with 43 points, and Hays scored 84 points for third.
The Panther runners will see some of the state's best when they compete under the stars at next Thursday's Olathe North Twilight meet.