Runners Soaring To State

3 Cross Country Runners Qualify For State At District Meet

Charlie Warner, Managing Editor
October 30, 2021

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Gallery • 16 Photos
Charlie Warner
(Left to right): senior Kai White, senior Evan Sarnell, senior Easton Allwood, senior Andrew Atkins, and junior Tate Chambers sprint out at the start of the boys varsity 5k.

     The cross country season entered the postseason after Conference Oct. 16. Today, the cross country team ran Class 5 Districts at Lee’s Summit North High School, bringing the season to an end with the boys team placing 6th out of 16 teams, and the girls team placing 8th out of 14 teams.

Senior Andrew Atkins turns the corner while racing. (Charlie Warner)

     The Lee’s Summit North course was in muddy conditions due to rain the previous day. 

     “I feel like the race went well. Given the course conditions, it wasn’t going to be a crazy fast race,” senior Andrew Atkins said. “I did all I needed to do to go to state.”

      Three athletes’ seasons will continue, after they advanced to state. For the boys, Atkins and senior Kai White advanced, getting 9th with a 16:40 and 23rd with a 16:55 respectively. For the girls, sophomore Avery Adair placed 21st with a 20:45.

      White was actually projected to not advance to state, with momilesplit.com predicting him to come in 38th, with only the top 30 runners advancing to state.   

“I just tried to put myself in the initial top 30 like my coaches said and hang on from there,” White said. “It obviously feels good to make it to state, not being projected to advance was really a wake up call that I’d need to step up in order to make it to state.”

     Adair was looking to qualify for state after not making it out last season.

 “I felt prepared and mentally strong today, which helped,” said Adair. “I’m approaching state with a positive mindset.”

     The 47th MSHSAA Cross Country Championships state will be held Friday, Nov. 5-6 at Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo.

    

Senior Kai White continues running at Districts. (Charlie Warner)

     

Teammate senior Easton Allwood and coach George Adair cheer on sophomore Avery Adair. Coach Adair is her father. (Charlie Warner)

    

 

(Left to right): freshman Colin Keaveny, freshman Brody Irlbeck, senior Andrew Atkins, senior Kai White, senior Easton Allwood, junior Tate Chambers, and senior Evan Sarnell break down the huddle before the race. (Charlie Warner)

 

While racing, senior Easton Allwood shouts words of encouragement to junior Tate Chambers from behind. (Charlie Warner)

 

Senior Haley Johnson fights off another runner up the hill. (Charlie Warner)

 

Junior Kyla Nguyen and senior Haley Johnson continue in the race. (Charlie Warner)

 

Freshman Colin Keaveny and senior Evan Sarnell run through the mud. (Charlie Warner)

 

Freshman Brody Irlbeck runs toward the finish line. (Charlie Warner)

 

Sophomore Avery McKenna runs towards the end of the race. (Charlie Warner)

 

Sophomore Ally Heintz finishes the race. (Charlie Warner)

 

Freshman Kaylin Romey runs to cross the finish line. (Charlie Warner)

 

Sophomore Avery McKenna runs toward the end of the race. (Charlie Warner)