Reynolds completes comeback with title
By Michael Ashford
Originally published 04:00 p.m., October 29, 2007
Updated 04:00 p.m., October 29, 2007
LAWRENCE — With the crowd roaring along both sides of the race route at the end of the Class 5A girls State cross country championship Saturday at Rim Rock Farm, Emporia High senior Michaela Reynolds seemed to effortlessly stride toward the finish line all alone in first place — the State title just a few meters away.
Many in the crowd cheering on Reynolds knew she had been the State champion two years ago as a sophomore — the announcer over the loudspeaker had reminded them of that fact several times during the race. But most had no idea what Reynolds had gone through to get back to this point.
A year removed from a disappointing 10th-place finish at State after bouts of strep throat and tonsilitis consumed her junior season, her journey back to full health this season has been a satisfying one for Reynolds, and it culminated with a State championship to show for it.
“It feels so good,” Reynolds said after the race. “I’ve been really patient and have had to wait a long time to finally get back to this point, but I’m really excited now that I have. I’m really happy.”
As she crossed the finish line, Reynolds put her hands on top of her head and walked away from what was possibly the most dominating performance of her four-year cross country career, especially considering this one won her a second State title. She finished more than a minute ahead of the runner up — St. Thomas Aquinas’ Ashley Washburn (15:08.46) — leaving no doubt that she was the cream of the crop when it came to cross country runners in Class 5A this season.
“It’s so satisfying,” Reynolds said. “It feels even better now, and I think I appreciate it even more after having gone through a rough period last year.”
Though Reynolds entered the race the heavy favorite after recording the best time in the State by 40 seconds at Regionals a week ago, she was admittedly nervous before the start.
But, she said, it wasn’t from any of the outside expectations.
“A lot of it was probably pressure I put on myself,” Reynolds said.
Once the race started, Reynolds settled into a groove — one that no other runner could come close to matching. She seemingly cruised through the first mile of the race, content to run with the lead group of Washburn, Hutchinson’s Emilee Morris and Gardner-Edgerton’s Clarissa Johnson, before reaching an uphill that bisected the starting line of the course.
On the upslope, Reynolds began her push. By the top of the hill, she had opened up a sizable gap between herself and the other three contenders. From that point on, the distance between Reynolds and the next pack of runners only grew.
“I ran with the pack up until right around the mile mark,” Reynolds said. “I felt pretty good at that point, so I decided to open up a gap.”
When she finally cleared the crest of the Bill Mills Assent — the signature skyline tract of the Rim Rock course — Reynolds was so far out in front that the race announcer anointed Reynolds “the 2007 State cross country champion” despite there being nearly 400 meters left.
Reynolds said as she ran down the final straightaway and crossed the finish line, she could only think of how far she had come since last year’s race when she ran despite feeling nauseous because of her medication.
“It was just a huge weight off my shoulders,” she said. “This year, it feels so much better than my sophomore year because I feel like I’ve earned it more than I did then.”
Reynolds’ victory was her fourth in a row since falling to the Class 6A champion, Laura Roxberg of Blue Valley Northwest, at the Rim Rock Classic a month ago. Since then, Reynolds won each race by an average of 37 seconds.
It was perhaps the most dominating stretch in her cross country career, made even more impressive when the sicknesses that ailed Reynolds a year ago are taken into account.
“Her attitude over four years, to come to practice every single day wanting to get better, that’s extremely rare for a high school student,” EHS coach Mark Stanbrough said. “Usually, you have some up days and some off days, but she came to practice every single day wanting to improve.
“Even last year when she wasn’t at 100 percent, she was there with a positive attitude wanting to work hard to get better.”
“She did the work and put the miles in. It’s paying off now.”
The EHS girls as a team finished sixth with 176 points, while Bishop Carroll won the team title with 63 points.
Senior Abby Lake was the next highest finisher for EHS, running a time of 16:43.86 to place 32nd. Sophomore Jenna Stanbrough placed 52nd in a time of 17:04.80. Emporia’s scoring was capped by sophomore Joslyn Barton (62nd, 17:31.55) and senior Liliana Morales (65th, 17:35.37).
Sophomore Tanya Morales (17:47.21) finished 71st and sophomore Caesie Reynolds (18:16.81) came in 82nd.
State Cross Country
Saturday at Lawrence
Class 5A Girls
1. Bishop Carroll 63, 2. Seaman 80, 3. St. Thomas Aquinas 112, 4. Bishop Miege 125, 5. Valley Center 133, 6. Emporia 176, 7. McPherson 196, 8. Kapaun Mt. Carmel 209, 9. Newton 215, 10. Lansing 219, 11. Shawnee Mill Valley 245, 12. Liberal 252.
Individual Medalists
1. Michaela Reynolds, Emporia, 14:55.59; 2. Ashley Washburn, St. Thomas Aquinas, 15:08.46; 3. Emilee Morris, Hutchinson, 15:08.7; 4. Clarissa Johnson, Gardner-Edgerton, 15:40.74; 5. Page Miller, Valley Center, 15:49.9; 6. Caroline Hale, Shawnee Heights, 15:54.37; 7. Etagegn O’Neill, Bishop Miege, 15:58.44; 8. Alisa Sooter, Bishop Carroll, 16:00.73; 9. Kylie Gaughan, Hays, 16:06.21; 10. Katie Hand, Kapaun Mt. Carmel, 16:08.58; 11. Tsianina Whitetree, Topeka West, 16:08.78; 12. Kate Hamlin, Bishop Carroll, 16:11.11; 13. Mollee Hercules, Bishop Miege, 16:11.42; 14. Brooke Vining, Valley Center, 16:11.83; 15. April Onnen, Seaman, 16:12.69; 16. Laura Jaqua, Lansing, 16:13.72; 17. Amanda Akin, Seaman, 16:20.26; 18. Hannah Law, Seaman, 16:23.11; 19. Megan Walden, Bishop Carroll, 16:23.64; 20. Stephanie Slimmer, Seaman, 16:23.91.