(Photo Credit: Michael Frazier)
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LAWRENCE, Kan. – Alli Cash knows Rim Rock Farm. The Shawnee Mission West senior has covered the 4k course nearly a dozen times, but Saturday she did something unprecedented – Cash dipped under 14 minutes and set a new course record at 13:59.22. “I do like running this course as much as we run it,” Cash said. “I think it does help because I know when I turn here there’s a big downhill and I know after I pass the bridge there’s a big uphill; I know where all the tough spots are. “(The record) means a lot. Last year at the state meet they said I was one of the top times, and I was like, ‘Wow.’ And I knew Samantha (Nightingale) ran an amazing time here last year. I just wanted to go out there and do my best to try and get that.”
(Photo Credit: Art Landson) Cash had never won the Rim Rock race, finishing runner-up to Nightingale last year. She did return to the course to claim the Kansas 6A title in 14:36. “I was hoping to do better than what I did last year here (at Rim Rock), which was a 14:54,” Cash said. Cash will get a taste of a 5k race next weekend when her team travels to the University of Minnesota’s Roy Griak Invitational. “For that it’s more about having fun,” Cash said. “I haven’t run a 5k since last Nike Cross, so it’ll just kind of be to go out there and see what I can do.” Pine Creek (CO) senior Heather Bates let Cash pull her to a fast time, too. Bates finished runner-up in 14:26.30, but she said she was a little unsure of how to weigh the time since she is accustomed to running a 5k. Bates entered the race with some familiarity with Cash as the two met in the 1,600-meter run at the KU Relays last spring. Cash was also first there (4:50) and Bates finished fourth (4:56). “I knew that she goes pretty fast from the gun, and that wasn’t really something I wanted to do today,” Bates said. “I just wanted to run a smart, consistent race. I don’t really want to be running my best until state and maybe beyond that. “It’s nice to be within 30 seconds of Alli Cash, and that’s pretty exciting. She’s an amazing runner.” Defending Arkansas state champion Maggie Montoya of Rogers was third in 14:34.04.
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Cash wasted little time moving to the front of the field, and she continued to push a blistering pace after the first mile. With about a half mile left, the PA announcer started bringing attention to the clock and the existing course record of 14:13. As she turned into the home straightaway, Cash said she heard the announcer and saw the clock, both of which added just a little more kick to the finish line.