By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Great Bend High School Cross Country Coach Lyles Lashley said it before Saturday's state championship race at Rim Rock Farm: until proven otherwise, Lenexa's St. James Academy is the team to beat. The Lady Panthers entered the Class 5A State Championships ranked No. 1 but had to settle for a second-place trophy with 78 points. St. James repeated as champions with 68 points, and St. Thomas Aquinas finished a distant third with 103 points.
Salina Central's duo completed a perfect season in the 1-2 spots. Junior Katelyn Rupe repeated as champion in 17:36.20 to cap a perfect season. Freshman Kaylie Schultz collected the silver in 17:78.90. Topeka Seaman sophomore Ryin Miller placed third in 18:36.80.
Lady Panther senior Addy Nicholson smashed the school record on the course to finish fifth in 19:01.7, just three seconds out of fourth place. Junior Marissa Boone added another top-10 state finish in 8th with a time of 19:11.1. Sophomore Sienna Smith placed 13th in 19:37.6, less than a second behind the runner ahead of her. Senior Morgan Beckwith had another strong finish for 29th in 20:06.20, less than a second behind two runners, including a St. James finisher. Senior Eliana Beckham ran 35th in 20:31.1 to score the final team points.
Junior Kate Welcher overcame a tough start to place 64th overall in 21:36.50. Senior Makenzie Premer entered the meet with the school record on the course but battled to a 75th-place finish in 21:59.30.
St. James Academy placed four scorers in the top-20 overall. Two of those runners gained spots by 1.5 seconds or fewer.
Stroup places 50th in boys' race
Four runners in the Class 5A boys' race cracked 16 minutes, led by Shawnee Heights senior Jackson Esquibel, who took the title by five seconds in 15:34.50. Panther senior Tavon Stroup finished 50th overall in 17:17.3. A 16:28.40 was needed to medal in this year's race.