One year ago, Bennington's girls toed the starting line of
the Class 2A state cross country championships with high hopes of winning the
school's fourth girls title.
What transpired over the next 20-25 minutes was not exactly
what the Bulldogs had envisioned.
Sure, freshman Kya Johnson was a nice surprise. She roared
through the Wamego Country Club course to a winning time of 19:36, just the
second Bennington girl ever to win the individual title.
But Bennington eventually fell to a strong Ellinwood team,
which captured the team title by a decisive margin of 45 points. In what should
have been a close team race, Bennington had an off-day, despite a second-place
finish.
They've got a second chance this year to make amends, this
time entering as a bit more of a clear favorite for the Class 2A girls title.
At last week's regionals, Bennington fought off Wabaunsee for the Washington
County regional title...