Sickness may have played a role in keeping Katelyn Henderson from winning a second straight State cross country title. But it didn’t keep her from repeating as The Gazette’s area cross country runner of the year.
Henderson, Olpe’s highly accomplished junior, was ill for the Class 2A State run in Wamego this year, and was so hindered that she finished third at the event, clocking a time of 16 minutes, 37.60 seconds. That left her a little more than 13 seconds short of taking the same crown she won as a sophomore, but it was another impressive performance to cap another tremendous fall of running. Henderson’s third-place State finish was the highest of any runner at The Gazette’s area schools, and for her accomplishments, she headlines the All-Area cross country team as its top honoree.
In addition to her State third-place medal, Henderson added championship after championship to her ledger this season, including her second straight Regional title and first-place performances at the Wamego Invitational and the Northern Heights Invitational. Her year was part of a fine overall performance by the Olpe program, whose boys team finished second at State.
The Eagle boys’ top three runners at State, seniors Lance Sadler, Colton Bess and Colby Nuessen, finished eighth, ninth and 10th, and all three earned selections to the All-Area boys team. Sadler became a rare runner to be selected for All-Area honors at two different schools; two years ago, he earned a selection as an Emporia High sophomore. This year, in Eagle green, he earned his eighth-place finish at State with a time of 17:44.55. Bess finished his year by running a 17:50.96 time, and Nuessen’s State time was 17:54.92.
For the complete story see the Gazette print edition or the online print edition at http://www.emporiagazette.com/pdf. To subscribe to the print edition or the online print edition go to http://www.emporiagazette.com/subscribe.
neighbor (anonymous) says...
Congrats area runners on another great cross country season.
Katelyn, I hope you are able to overcome your health issues and continue your winning ways in basketball, and track later this year. See you next year in CC.
Jenna, good luck in your College career and in your future.
Kimberly, you had a much better CC year than what was briefly mentioned in this article. You finished 5th in your first event of the season against 1A-6A runners on a wet and muddy Topeka course. You finished first in several league runs, often finishing 1:30 minutes faster than the 2nd place runners. Your worst league finish was 4th. You ran in every scheduled event. You repeated as League Champion and Regional Champion, having won both titles last year as a Freshman as well. For the second year in a row, you placed in the top five at State, placing 5th this year(although lower finish, your time was faster than the 2A Champion and all of the other Area League runners' times).
November 27, 2009 at 10:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
M151mutt (anonymous) says...
Great job to the Olpe and NH runners. It would be nice if the Gazette would include all Lyon County League and Flint Hills League results, since both leagues have schools in their coverage area. Food for thought.....
December 3, 2009 at 12:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )