by Taylor Eldridge

Ah, finally…the start of the 2009 cross country season. Things were kicked off tonight with the Clearwater Invitational, which featured plenty of different races: Open races for the boys and the girls and then 2-mile races for Senior/Junior and Sophomore/Freshman divisions. So there was a lot of racing tonight in Clearwater. This was more of a “pre-season” race. No team scores were kept and runners were spread throughout the divisions.

So let’s get to the results:

• Girls Open 4K

1. Sav. Wright, Douglass, 16:37; 2. Carlson, Rose Hill, 16:59; 3. M. Babb, Clearwater, 17:15; 4. Gardner, Burrton, 17:35; 5. Doyle, Belle Plaine, 17:38; 6. Fernandez, Burrton, 17:41; 7. Downing, Rose Hill, 17:44; 8. Sar. Wright, Douglass, 17:45; 9. Rausch, Clearwater, 17:52; 10. Davis, Clearwater, 17:55; 11. K. Babb, Clearwater, 17:56; 12. McChesney, Winfield, 17:57; 13. Jones, Cheney, 18:07; 14. Layton, Clearwater, 18:12; 15. Navarro, Burrton, 18:15; 16. Garrison, Clearwater, 18:21; 17. Treweeke, Circle, 18:23; 18. Nutsch, Rose Hill, 18:30; 19. Vinson, Eureka, 18:34; 20. Leis, Cheney, 18:38.

What it all means: Savannah Wright, only a sophomore, proves she is not just a middle distance specialist. 16:37 is a solid time in the first meet of the season and, assuming everyone was taking it easy, the lack of push makes the time even more impressive. She might be one to watch at the 3A level. Taylor Carlson, Michelle Babb and Kailey Gardner are no surprises being at the top. But the surprise of the top 10 had to be Burrton’s Maria Fernandez. Burrton establishes itself as a team to beat in 3A, especially if Fernandez can keep the pace. Burrton has as solid of a top five as anyone around.

• Boys Open 5K

1. Topham, Peabody, 17:42; 2. Alstrom, Cheney, 18:04; 3. Lauxman, Circle, 18:06; 4. Howell, Andover Central, 18:09; 5. Busenitz, Berean, 18:12; 6. Newby, Berean, 18:15; 7. Sandlin, Valley Center, 18:17; 8. Lightfoot, Andover Central, 18:18; 9. Claassen, Berean, 18:20; 10. Reimer, Goessel, 18:25; 11. Fay, Circle, 18:30; 12. Sellers, Circle, 18:37; 13. Ellis, Andover Central, 18:42; 14. Penney, Andale, 18:44; 15. Kingsland, Valley Center, 18:49; 16. Youngers, Clearwater, 18:49; 17. Campbell, Independent, 18:52; 18. Lane, Berean, 18:52; 19. Speed, Independent, 19:03; 20. Zaldivar, Douglass, 19:05.

What it all means: Aaron Topham running under 18 was a nice time for the first meet of the season. Seth Alstrom is as consistent as they come, as is Jason Lauxman of Circle. Andy Howell was probably the surprise of the top 10. He didn’t qualify for state last season, so seeing him placing in the top 5 is definitely a positive. Berean looks to be setting up nicely on the boy’s side of things, as well.

• Freshman/Sophomore Girls 2-mile

1. Wedekind, Valley Center, 12:33; 2. Wills, Andover Central, 13:33; 3. Flores, Andover Central, 13:39; 4. Raney, Valley Center, 13:45; 5. Newlin, Collegiate, 13:47; 6. Welch, Mulvane, 14:13; 7. Lower, Collegiate, 14:15; 8. Flanigan, Andover Central, 14:24; 9. Henson, Kingman, 14:24; 10. Lane, Andale, 14:35.

What it all means: Not sure which Wedekind that is for Valley, but that 2-mile time will translate into success in 4K’s.  Nothing else really sticks out.

• Junior/Senior Girls 2-mile

1. Vining, Valley Center, 13:08; 2. Trible, Remington, 13:25; 3. Duggins, Collegiate, 13:26; 4. May, Andale, 14:25; 5. Claassen, Remington, 14:29; 6. Swanson, N/A, 14:33; 7. Greenlee, Sedgwick, 14:34; 8. Christensen, Medicine Lodge, 14:36; 9. Hermes, Andale, 14:36; 10. Hansen, Andover Central, 14:44.

What it all means: Valley Center must have wanted its runner to take it easy week one, as Brooke Vining is one of the top individual runners in the area. Not a particulary great time, but by the end of the season she will be among the state’s best. There were some good runners in this race with Vining, Morgan Trible, Megan Duggins and Madison May. All have state experience.

• Freshman/Sophomore Boys 2-mile

1. Sutton, Oxford, 11:38; 2. Shook, Ark City, 12:00; 3. Durham, Valley Center, 12:01; 4. Goodwin, Douglass, 12:12; 5. Dehning, Cheney, 12:13; 6. Tallant, Pretty Prairie, 12:21; 7. Wallace, Andale, 12:22; 8. Lane, Burrton, 12:28; 9. Blankenship, Valley Center, 12:32; 10. McBee, Andover Central, 12:34.

What it all means: Didn’t see Ryan Sutton breaking out like this. I believe he is a sophomore at Oxford, and it looks like he is going to have a bright vuture. Nothing else really stands out.

• Junior/Senior Boys 2-mile

1. Craddock, Collegiate, 11:30; 2. Bland, Ark City, 11:32; 3. Hendrixson, Sedgwick, 11:43; 4. Sooter, Halstead, 11:48; 5. Bitonte, Collegiate, 11:55; 6. Morton, West, 12:09; 7. Carey, Remington, 12:23; 8. Toews, Remington, 12:21; 9. Howell, Pretty Prairie, 12:22; 10. Williams, Chaparral, 12:25.

What it all means: Max Craddock turns in a solid race at the start of the season. Nothing else really catches my eye.