WAMEGO – Macksville High’s Henry Penner ran a perfect tactical race, his best time ever at Wamego Country Club.
Penner’s best was good for his second consecutive Class 1A runner-up finish (16:26.9) behind two-time state champion Caden Callaway of Scandia-Pike Valley (16:11.7). Penner improved his time by 51 seconds from last year’s runner-up finish.
“It was way better than last year, so that’s a heck of a race,” Penner said. “My goal was to hit 16 minutes, and I kind of doubted because I had never done that, but I went out and did it. I give Caden Callaway credit for helping me.”
Penner’s back-to-back runner-up finishes is the best in school history.
“He’s always been a strong runner. I tried to stick with him. My goal was to run right with him, but he ran away with it,” Penner said. “I’m fine with what I got.”
Macksville finished ninth (135) in Class 1A, won by Natoma (44) with Pike Valley (55) and Brewster (61) winning state trophies.
Macksville’s other runners were Hector Negrete, 62nd (20:26.3); Brigdon Russell, 64th (20:33.8); Jarrod Kuckelman, 67th (20:49.6); Kaden Herman, 73rd (21:08.7); Brandon Ibarra, 77th (21:31.4); and Wyatt Neeland, 80th (22.06.7).
Stafford’s Carter Cross finished 35th (19:05.8) and Otis Bison’s Thomas Harmon placed 46th (19:42.7).
CLASS 2A
Ellinwood High’s Morgan Feemster kept attacking the course and finished fifth (17:03.3) by passing 10 runners in the last mile. Feemster finished 17th last year for the Class 2A team champion and improved his state time by 49 seconds.
“It seemed a lot faster today. I did well and did what coach told me to do and pass runners slowly on the hills,” Feemster said. “No one trains harder than we do. We run some of the toughest hills in Kansas every Saturday out by Barton County College,” Feemster said. “I tried to stay in the top 10 and pass people as the race goes along.”
Olpe’s Kyler True (16:17.7) won the state title. Shawnee Maranatha (57) captured the state title with Salina Sacred Heart (57) and Leoti (132) winning state trophies.