Another league title for EHS boys
By Michael Ashford
Originally published 02:23 p.m., October 15, 2007
Updated 02:23 p.m., October 15, 2007
Torrential rains only delayed the inevitable Saturday morning in Topeka, as the Emporia High boys cross country team won the Centennial League title ... again.
Though the meet began about an hour late because of heavy thunder and lightning, for the sixth year in a row, the Spartans claimed the League trophy, and they did it in perhaps their most dominating fashion yet.
Led by the 1-2 finish of Jacob Davies and Asher Delmott in the 5-kilometer race, Emporia placed six runners in the top 12, all within 42 seconds of each other.
As such, the No. 1-ranked (Class 5A) Spartans ended with 30 team points to roll past second-place Manhattan (57).
“The boys have run consistently well all year,” EHS coach Mark Stanbrough said. “They had fun running in the mud.”
Davies won his second straight race by taking control with about 300 meters left, crossing the line in 16 minutes, 43 seconds. Delmott was just a second back in 16:44 after passing Washburn Rural’s Brian Hagemann with 150 meters to go.
Tyler Anliker came in sixth in a time of 17:12, Mike Robinson finished 10th in a time of 17:22 and Lance Sadler closed out Emporia’s scoring with an 11th-place finish in a time of 17:23. Andrew Wayman was 12th (17:25) and Tavo Dikin came in 22nd (17:53).
No team from Kansas has beaten the EHS boys this year, as only two Missouri schools and one Arkansas school have finished ahead of the Spartans in races this season.
Michaela Reynolds made it two weeks in a row that Emporia has swept the individual titles, as the senior regained the League title that she won as a sophomore by winning the girls 4K in a time of 15:05, 14 seconds ahead of Manhattan’s Marley Crusch.
After Crusch got out to the early lead, Reynolds slowly chipped away at Crusch’s advantage before catching her about halfway through the race. Then, over the last mile, Reynolds pulled away from one of Class 6A’s top runners.
Emporia also got a strong race out of senior Abby Lake, who picked up All-League honors with a 15th-place finish in a time of 16:56.
The No. 5-ranked Lady Spartans placed fourth as a team with 103 points, just one point behind third-place Washburn Rural. Seaman, the second-ranked team in 5A, was second (73), while top-ranked (6A) Manhattan won the girls title (35).
Jenna Stanbrough (17:24) and Liliana Morales (17:31) finished 25th and 37th, respectively, despite both being hampered with injuries. Coach Stanbrough said Joslyn Barton ran a strong race, as she finished 29th in a time of 17:31.
Tanya Morales finished 42nd (18:19) and Caesie Reynolds was 57th (18:54).
The next hurdle for the EHS cross country teams is this Saturday when it plays host to a Regional meet at Jones Park beginning at 11 a.m.
On the boys side, the top-ranked Spartans will be joined by three other ranked teams: Shawnee Heights (tied for 4th), Kapaun Mt. Carmel (tied for 4th) and Topeka West (7th). EHS will be aiming for its fifth consecutive Regional title.
The girls field will feature the fifth-ranked Lady Spartans plus second-ranked Seaman and Newton and Kapaun Mt. Carmel, which are tied for seventh in 5A.