Distance Runners Hold Key to 5A State Titles

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At most track and field meets, the folks in the timing booth get just a little more anxious when the sprints hit the track. It's a bit nerve-wracking when you're relying on FinishLynx cameras to sort out the finish line by hundredths of a second.


At the Kansas class 5A state championships this year, those same folks won't get much of a break when the distance races take center stage.

 

Oh, for sure, class 5A has its sprinters. In fact, Kalli Anderson of Newton, can flat out fly and perhaps is the state's fastest girl this season.

 

But the excitement is high for the longer races in class 5A this year, not just because the individual races will be heart-wrenching, but because the results of those races may well determine the boys and girls team champions.

 

The St. James Academy girls have finished as state runner-up to Newton the past three years, but enter this season's meet as a strong favorite to win the team title. They are the model of distance ...