If you feel a slight bend down the middle of the State of
Kansas this weekend, you can blame Rick Patton.
The veteran Wamego coach has a knack for pulling off a great
early-season meet, and this year is no different. Patton's Red Raiders will
host the largest meet in Kansas that is hosted by a high school team when the
annual Wamego Invitational takes place on Saturday.
The meet has a reputation for giving state cross country
fans a preview of the state meet. Not only is it held on the same course where
the 1A/2A/4A state championships will be held in late October, it also attracts most of
the teams that will be there.
In all, 60 teams will run in the Wamego Invitational. Put
another way, that's one-fifth of all the schools that run high school cross
country in Kansas. And it includes most of the best runners and teams in class
1A through 4A, from all parts of the state.
Patton says there will be 28 teams in 4A divi...