2009 6A Cross Country Preview

The 6A boys field was hit the 2^nd hardest to graduation out of all the classes (40 total), but only lost 6 medalists. Basically there’s a big hole in the middle of the pack.  The top 20 returners all broke 17:00 last year, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it takes a sub 16:40 (in similar conditions) to medal this year (16:46 was 20^th last year). Up front you have 4 of the top 5 returning with Roy Wedge of Lawrence being the top returner, and preseason favorite.   I think there are probably a handful of guys that could challenge him. SMNW has Aaron Thornburg (3^rd last year) & Sterling Spencer (2^nd in 2007). Jacob Morgan of Washburn Rural was 4^th last year as a freshman and only 10 seconds back of him, so he definitely has the potential. Robby Martinez-Garcia of Wichita NW was only 16^th last year, and is more of a mid-distance type, but he did beat Wedge at state in the 3200 so you can’t rule him out either. And as was proved last year with Brayden Barrientez going from 36^th in 2007 to state champ in 2008, there are several other guys that could be in there with a solid summer of training under their belt.   It will be no small task though, and could very well take a sub 16 to win it. In the team battle it’s easy to see who the top 4 returning teams are, but then it gets real difficult to separate. 

 

5 – Blue Valley West – this was a hard one, but I took a look around at the JV squads of a bunch of teams, and BV West’s was among the best last year. So you take that and add it to their 4 guys they return from last year (17:33 avg), and you get 5^th in the preseason rankings. 

4 – Olathe East has 5 coming back from their squad that placed 9^th last year. Ryan Hocker is their top returner after placing 5^th last year, and they have Andrew Sheets who was a state qualifier in the 3200. They will need to get their 3-5 to move up to be competitive at the top.

3 – Washburn Rural returns 6, and has some excellent firepower up front. Jacob Morgan and Aaron Pope are the 3^rd and 7th returners overall, and Alex Maafey is the 22^nd. They will have to close their pack time down to their 4^th and 5^th runners in order to have a chance at 1^st or 2^nd.

2 – Shawnee Mission NW – The Cougars bring back an excellent top 4, and always have great depth on JV to reload from. I have them deadlocked with Lawrence if you score 4. Aaron Thornburg, Keaton Jones, and Sterling Spencer are all exceptionally talented guys (all around 4:31/9:45 or faster as freshmen) and will put a hurtin’ on you up front. They certainly can’t be counted out from coming back to win another state title for SMNW this year, but they’ll have to find a great 5^th.

1 – Lawrence pulled out the upset over the juggernaut SMNW last year after steady improvement all season long, and coming up big at state. They were able to end the streak by virtually matching SMNW’s top 3, and then beating them with their 4-5. In addition, their 6^th man was only 1 place behind SMNW’s and their 7^th man was 3 ahead of SMNW’s.   They only lose their 2^nd man off that team, and should be fired up to defend the 6A title on their home course. Roy Wedge leads them as the individual 6A favorite. They have Joseph Springer and Calvin Morgan as the 11^th and 13^th overall returners, and their 4^th and 5^th returners (Simon Fangman and Zach Andregg) could be real dangerous as they were only freshmen last year.

 

 

 

 2008 was a very competitive year for 6A girls (21 points separated 2^nd through 5^th), and 2009 should be no different.  Every team from state last year returns at least 5 runners, except for SMNW who return 4.  The top 3 returners are all seniors, followed by 6 sophomores, and then three more seniors.  The top 10 should be very fast as there are several girls that have run around 11:35 and faster, topped off with Dani Walker (3^rd last year) with a 2:17 & 5:04 at state, and defending champ Avery Clifton of Washburn Rural with a 5:02 & 10:40 on her resume. 

 

5 – Blue Valley NW returns 5 from last year’s 7^th place team. They are solid up front with Catie Miller and Anna Roxberg, and have excellent depth (had the best 7^th runner at state last year) to give just about anyone some trouble.

4 – Shawnee Mission NW brings back an excellent group of 4. Lisa Imgrund and Christine Nelson were 2^nd and 4^th in the 3200 at state which gets them off to a great start. They can be a title threat if they find someone to fit between their returning 4. 

3 – Washburn Rural brings back 6 and only has one senior in the bunch. That senior is a big one though, in defending champ Avery Clifton. Clifton posted times in the 1600 (5:02.04) & 3200 (10:40.09) which rank her 19^th & 9^th All-Time in Kansas. They back her up with a solid pack of 3 sophomores & two juniors. If they can close the gap down to their 5^th they will be tough to beat.

2 – Shawnee Mission South – The raider girls were one fearsome pack last year, and they return 6 from that bunch. They have the best returning #5 in the state, but no real front runners yet. Hayley Cline and Jordyn Smith lead them as top 20 overall returners. If they can improve on that front end power there may be no stopping them.

1 – Derby brings back 5 from their team that won the first ever 6A girls title for a school outside the Northeast part of the state. They’re led by the sophomore duo of Emily Hornbeck and Amber Green who placed 11^th and 12^th last year. They have a real solid 3^rd in Tori Lewis, and 4^th in Valerie Nielson (who made a meteoric rise from JV to 42^nd in 6A in her first year running). They will most likely have to close the gap to their 5^th in order to make it two in a row.