LAWRENCE — Great Bend’s cross country meet earned a preview of the 5A state cross country course at Rim Rock Farms Saturday.

The Panthers’ returning 5A third-place finisher Kaiden Esfeld (16:05.8) earned 10th medalist honors in the Gold Division.

Esfeld ran the seconed fastest time in school history for the Rim Rock course. 

Last year’s third-place 5A state finisher the Great Bend girls placed 11th with 286 points in the Gold Division. Marissa Boone (20:09.5) placed 28th and ran the third-fastest time in school history on the course. Addy Nicholson (20:11.1) placed 30th and ran the fourth fastest time and 76th-place finisher Morgan Beckwith (21:18.1) ran 10th fastest.  

“We decided to roll with the big dogs in the Gold Division,” said Great Bend cross country coach Lyles Lashley. “It was a fun weekend in Lawrence. The runners got to see all sorts of different teams with 12 races and more than 3,000 runners. The girls placed 11th overall, fifth best Kansas team and second-best 5A team."

Panther Tevon Stroup (18:38.3) placed 22nd to earn a medal in the junior varsity division.

RIM ROCK INVITATIONAL

GIRLS 5K

TEAM SCORES—1—Blue Springs South, Mo. 144; 2—Washburn Rural 152; 3—Denver East, Colo. 173; 4—College Park Christian, Mo. 191; 5—Loveland, Colo. 198; 6—Denver Regis Jesuit, Colo. 200; 7—Dowling Catholic, Iowa 213; 8—St. Thomas Aquinas 218; 9—SM East 240; 10—Mill Valley 271; 11—Great Bend 286 (28—Marissa Boone, 20:09.5; 30—Addy Nicholson, 20:11.1; 76—Morgan Beckwith, 21:18.1; 78—Eliana Beckham, 21:19.8; 89—Diane Alvarez, 21:38.2; 98—Sienna Smith, 21:49.1; 118—Reese King, 22:20.0

BOYS 5K—1—Wyatt Haughton, SM East, 15:18.5; 10—Kaiden Esfeld, GB, 16:05.8

BOYS JV

GREAT BEND—22—Tevon Stroup, 18:38.3; 57—Thomas Henrikson, 19:44.9; 85—Braylon Moore, 20;19.7; 109—Bradon Suppes, 21:30.6; 115—Brantley Vsetecka, 22:08.6