State Cross Country Recap ======> Rim Rock

3A Girls

It was a very similar team finish to last year at the top -- in fact, exact point totals aren't too far off, and the only big difference was that Scott Community was a bit closer to Douglass this year. In any case, Southeast of Saline was able to defend their title, and once again held off Hiawatha, but this time by only 8 points (85-93, last year was 74-89). Hiawatha actually beat SE of Saline at the #4 and #5 spots -- but what seems to have put SE of Saline on top was the fact that their #3 was in before Hiawatha's #2. So in the end, Hiawatha just did not have the front running needed to overcome SE of Saline's three in the top 22. Now I have to admit I was a bit surprised by Douglass recapturing the final podium spot, as their race results throughout the season, "highlighted" by a 5th runner a bit too far back, didn't indicate a high possibility of such a finish. However, they got great races from all parties and took advantage of the fact that Scott City, the fourth place team they beat 100-109, also was lacking a fifth runner after a strong top four. Douglass, similar to last year, ended up having the best 1-2-3-4 punch in all of 3A.

Individually, Klair Gibson of Douglass had the most dominating win of all three girls' races at Rim Rock on Saturday. She ran a 19:34 and was the only runner under 20:00, with the second place runner -- Makaela Stevens of Scott Community -- 53 seconds back at 20:27. Gibson's title was her first XC title; but she is very familiar with being at the top, as she closed out her high school XC career with her fourth top four finish (4th in 2012 and 3rd in 2013 and 2014). Meanwhile, Stevens was able to outrun who I considered the "runner-up favorite", Celia Biel of Trinity High School (Hutchinson), who ended up 3rd in 20:36; both improved upon their 2014 finishes (7th for Stevens, 5th for Biel). Allison Stutterheim of Southeast of Saline closed out her high school XC career with a solid 4th place, 20:50 finish, after going 8th, 8th, and 9th her first three years. She outran the top 3A freshman on the day, Elizabeth Kettler of Hiawatha, who ran a 20:53 and who was the only other 3A runner under 21:00.

Top Five Teams:

PlaceTeamPointsScorersTimes
1Southeast of Saline High School853+9+14+26+33 (34+45)1:49 1-5 Split | 21:41 Avg
2Hiawatha High School934+15+21+24+29 (43+51)1:36 1-5 Split | 21:50 Avg
3Douglass High School1001+5+17+18+59 (71+79)4:53 1-5 Split | 21:40 Avg
4Scott Community High School1092+12+16+25+54 (61+63)3:34 1-5 Split | 21:55 Avg
5Thomas More Prep-Marian High School1396+13+31+37+52 (56+69)2:50 1-5 Split | 22:23 Avg

Medalists (Top 20):

PlaceAthleteTeamResultPoints
1Gibson, Klair12Douglass High School19:34.901
2Stevens, Makaela10Scott Community High School20:27.102
3Biel, Celia11Trinity High School20:36.00--
4Stutterheim, Allison12Southeast of Saline High School20:50.703
5Kettler, Elizabeth9Hiawatha High School20:53.804
6Schmidt, Sienna10Remington High School21:01.80--
7Henderson, Kryslyn10Douglass High School21:03.805
8Hamel, Rachel12Thomas More Prep-Marian High School21:05.006
9Steele, Joy9Osage City21:06.407
10Smith, Devyn12Belle Plaine High School21:07.00--
11Johnson, Lydia9Halstead High School21:07.908
12Mcdaniel, Paige9Wellsville High School21:08.60--
13Fear, Emma10Southeast of Saline High School21:12.109
14Weber, Abby10Hesston High School21:13.80--
15Hague, Emily11Marion High School21:14.00--
16Crum, Jennifer9Lakin High School21:18.10--
17White, Heather10Lakin High School21:18.60--
18Scholz, Rebekah12Atchison County High School21:18.7010
19Puett, Amber9Riley County High School21:20.0011
20Davis, Trella10Scott Community High School21:21.9012


3A/5A/6A State Meet Race Recaps: