BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
Great Bend's 2-time state cross country qualifier Decorah Schroeter is on a record-breaking pace.
The Western Athletic Association and substate champion (18:25.61) has snapped several all-time course records.
WAC champion Schroeter placed 14th in 5A last year.
Schroeter's top two challengers are Salina Central's defending state champion Kaylie Schultz, a Florida State signee, and Wichita Kapaun-Mt. Carmel sensation Ava Claassen (16:50.93) who is on cruise control flashing her signature smile.
"Decorah has broken every school course record she's raced," said Great Bend coach Lyles Lashley. "She's set the 5K and 4K school records. She had a great summer, which really helps."
Lashley credited Alyssa Prendergast for helping the Panther girls qualify for the 5A state meet.
"Alyssa Prendergast is usually our seventh runner, but she saved us," he said. "I was proud that she stepped up great. She competed in that last part of the race. Otherwise, we wouldn't qualified for state.
"The girls survived regionals because we ran OK. It's been a long year because we've run our seventh, eighth and ninth-best runners. We ran 'banged up' all year. They've done a good job getting back healthy."
The Panthers counted 10th-place Sydney Stein, 20:19.65; 12th-place Bella Long, 20:32.27; 21st-place Prendergast, 22:08.59 and 25th-place Samantha Negaard at regionals.
Kapaun's Claassen broke all-time state records last spring in the 5A state 3,200 meters (10:04.27) prior to posting the 3,200 No. 1 all-time record (10:01.55).
"Claassen would've placed second in the boys regional," Lashley said. "She's smiling the whole time she runs."
Ninth-place medalist Brogan Lashley (17:13.25) qualified for his second 5A state meet. Lashley placed 42nd at 5A state last year.
"Brogan would've liked to run better at regionals, but he wasn't feeling his best," Lashley said. "He survived. Hopefully, Brogan runs better at state."
The Great Bend boys scored 114 points to finish fifth.
"The boys went out too fast, but they were trying" Lashley said. "We were beating Carroll at the mile mark. It was a slow march backwards."
5A GREAT BEND GIRLS — Decorah Schroeter, Sydney Stein, Bella Long, Alyssa Prendergast, Samantha Negaard, Sydney James, McKenzie Gwin
5A GREAT BEND BOYS — Brogan Lashley
3A HOISINGTON BOYS — Brody Rossman
3A HOISINGTON GIRLS — Tristin Compton, Jensynn Williams
2A ELLINWOOD GIRLS — Eleanor Joiner, Lexi Thomas, Ali Gonzalez, Madison Dombroski, Leah Steffan, Emma Dewey
2A ELLINWOOD GIRLS — Ryan Pohlman, Caleb Herrman
1A ST. JOHN BOYS — Aaden Gonzalez, Liam Knight, Garrett Dunn, Jayce Feril, Ryer Ward
1A STAFFORD BOYS — Joel Valadez
1A CENTRAL PLAINS BOYS — Jayden Stiles
1A MACKSVILLE GIRLS — Kennedy Butler
