Few Surprises as Kansas Teams Punch State Meet Tickets

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If the primary reason for the regional cross country meets across Kansas on Saturday was to get the best individuals and teams to the state meet, then let me say this: Mission Accomplished.


With at least one glaring exception.


The class 5A regional at Blue Valley Southwest was a gauntlet for the eight teams entered, featuring four boys' squads that could likely finish in the top five at the state meet, including three-time defending state champion St. Thomas Aquinas.


Because just three teams could advance to state, it meant someone was going to get bounced. And the host team made sure it wasn't them.


Senior Dylan Miller ran a season- and career-best 15:49 for second place, a key finish as Blue Valley Southwest nabbed the third spot by four points ahead of St. James Academy. Blue Valley Southwest entered the meet on the proverbial bubble, having finished fourth against mostly the same teams at the Eastern Kansas League championships a week earlier.


St. Thomas Aq...