BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
OLATHE – The No. 2 ranked 5A Great Bend girls placed fifth in Saturday's Olathe Twilight cross country race after finishing 15th last year. A total of 41 teams and 1,602 runners competed in the multi-state event.
Great Bend's 12th-place medalist Addy Nicholson (18:29) set an all-time best time as the first Panther girl to run under 19 minutes. Nicholson has a share of the 3,200-meter relay track record and owns the school's 1,600-meter record.
"She crushed it. It was awesome," said Great Bend coach Lyles Lashley. "With under 300 meters left, she had a shot to break 18:30. She took off. Each year, she's shaved off time. Her hard work has paid off."
Lashley was pleased the girls competed with a strong effort. Marissa Boone (19:23.9), Eliana Beckham (19:29.2), Makenzie Premer (19:29.9) and Sienna Smith (19:48.2) also counted in the team score.
"We had many outstanding performances," said Lashley. "We saw great competition. It was a great night. The girls are getting better each week. They are progressing to their goals.
"Last year we had two girls under 20 minutes," Lashley said. "Tonight we had five – Addy Nicholson, Eliana Beckham, Marissa Boone, Sienna Smith and Makenzie Premer who helped the volleyball team win the Riley County tournament. Our three freshman girls Teegan Guerra, Teah King and Bella Long medaled in the JV race."
The Panthers compete at the Buhler Invitational Thursday.
"We'll set team goals this week," Lashley said. "We'll have good weather."
Tavon Stroup (16:52.5) led the Panther boys. Braylon Moore (18:05.6) was next.
"I see a runner like Braylon Moore who ran 26 minutes as a freshman," Lashley said. "He keeps working at it every year. Now he's at 18 minutes. That's gratifying."
OLATHE TWILIGHT
GIRLS MEDALIST–1–Anjali Hocker Singh, Olathe North, 17:41.2
GIRLS TEAMS–1–Olathe West 60; 2–Lenexa St. James 163; 3–Rock Bridge, Mo. 168; 4–Blue Springs South, Mo. 178; 5–Great Bend 203
GREAT BEND–12–Addy Nicholson, 18:29.3; 37–Marissa Boone, 19:23.9; 47–Eliana Beckham, 19:29.2; 48–Makenzie Premer, 19:29.9; 64–Sienna Smith, 19:48.2; 119–Morgan Beckwith, 20:48.0; 124–Kate Welcher, 20:52.8
GREAT BEND FRESHMEN–10–Teegan Guerra, 21:12.6; 14–Bella Long, 21:32.6; 19–Teah King, 21:34.9
GREAT BEND BOYS RESULTS–102–Tavon Stroup, 16:52.5; 183–Braylon Moore 18:05.6; 207–Bradon Suppes, 18:46.1; 72–Anthony Lawrence, 18:53.3; 196–Parker Coleman, 20;25.9
