By Taylor Eldridge

Before I present to you the first-ever (unofficial) All-Metro cross country teams, let me explain to you how I reached my decisions. This week I sent out an e-mail to several cross country coaches asking them to pick the seven best runners, boys and girls, from the Sedgwick, Butler and Harvey counties.

Now I selected the teams based half on the nominations sent back to me and half on my own evaluation of runners and my own thoughts. Now that you know, let me introduce to you your 2009 All-Metro cross country team.

Also, I have big plans for the track and field season this spring so please leave me your e-mail on the comments section or e-mail me at teldridge24@yahoo.com to stay up-to-date on what’s happening. Thanks so much for the support and readership. I appreciate it!

BOYS

Evan Landes * Junior * Mulvane

The top runner on the top team in the area, Landes finished the season with five race victories and a second place finish at state. As consistent as they come, Landes was no stranger to the lead pack this season – evident by top-5 finishes in all nine races this season. Landes led the Wildcats to their third consecutive Class 4A state championship this fall.

Neil Metler * Senior * Derby

Stuck in the shadow of former teammate Jake Wike, now at Wichita State, last season, Metler transformed himself into one of the area’s top runners. The senior kicked off the season with three straight race victories and improved rapidly throughout the season. He broke 16 minutes twice back-to-back weeks before winning his Class 6A Regional race and leading his team to a state berth. After a good season last year, Metler turned in a great one this season.

Brock Nooney * Senior * Campus

Nooney was undoubtedly one of the surprise stories this season from the state meet. Alternating with teammate Bryant Keirns for much of the season as Campus’ No. 1 runner, Nooney broke out of his running shell at state to run the best race of his 4-year career. His 4th place finish in a time of 16:13 proves Nooney to be one of the best runners in the area on one of the best teams.

Nick Lockwood * Junior * Mulvane

Lost in the shuffle of dominant front runner Evan Landes and senior leader Nikki Trooien-Smith, Lockwood sailed under the radar for much of the season. After not breaking 17 minutes the first four meets of the season, Lockwood finally burst onto the scene the second half of the season. He placed third at league, second at regionals and fourth at state to cap off another state championship for Mulvane.

Robbie Martinez-Garcia * Senior * Northwest

There may not be a name more synonymous with distance running in the City League for the past four seasons than Martinez-Garcia’s. He has long been a steady force in cross country, and this season he finally broke through to capture his first cross country wins at the City League championships and at his Class 6A Regional. He placed in the top-15 of the Class 6A state meet to conclude a tremendous high school career at Northwest.

Nikki Trooien-Smith * Senior * Mulvane

Landes may have been the team’s top runner this season, but it all started with Trooien-Smith. The vocal leader on the now three-time defending state champions, Trooien-Smith cemented his legacy with another top-5 performance at state. Never Mulvane’s top runner, Trooien-Smith still has had as much to do with the recent success of Mulvane as anybody.

David Thor * Sophomore * Bishop Carroll

One of the rare examples of a sprinter-turned-distance runner, Thor proved he belong with the best the second half of the season. After fighting off a foot injury and the flu, the sophomore battled back to place second at City League, fourth at his Class 5A regionals and fourth at the state meet. Blessed with perhaps the best foot speed among distance runners, Thor’s development over the next two seasons will be something to watch.

Dale Landes * Coach * Mulvane

The coach behind the legacy at Mulvane, Landes has proven to know how to handle his runners. Mulvane started out slow at the beginning of the season – yet still won four of five regular season races – before peaking at just the right time at league (1st), regionals (1st) and state (1st). Landes’ methods have led the Wildcats to three straight cross country championships in Class 4A.

GIRLS

Mackenzie Maki * Junior * Kapaun Mount Carmel

Since arriving from Montana her sophomore year, Maki has been a dominant figure in area cross country. Challenged by the emergence of Bishop Carroll freshman Kaelyn Balch, Maki responded with a late season win over her at the El Dorado Invitational and then picked up victories at City League and regionals before collecting her second straight Class 5A individual championship this fall. Maki is piecing together one of the most dominant careers in cross country history.

Kaelyn Balch * Freshman * Bishop Carroll

Entering the season with an unheard of buzz surrounding her talent, Balch proved she was the real deal at the beginning of the season. She reeled off one of the top performances in the 4k in the nation at the Southeast Invitational, finishing in a time of 14:01. A late season arch injury derailed her City League hopes, but she recovered to win regionals and a tumble early on at state prevented her from challenging for an individual championship. Expect next year’s Maki-Balch duels to be legendary.

Morgan Wedekind * Freshman * Valley Center

One of the best surprise stories of the season, Wedekind proved you don’t have to be a natural born runner to win. Just running to stay in shape for her favorite sports, basketball and soccer, the freshman turned her “warm-up” season into a state championship-winning one. One-by-one Wedekind defeated the top runners in the area this season on her way to seven race victories – in eight tries. A fast start and an unbeatable kick makes Wedekind one to watch in coming years.

Dani Walker * Senior * Maize

As stable as they come, Walker has been one of the few constants in the area cross country scene over the last four years. Over-shadowed by stars like Maki and Balch, Walker has silently pieced together one of the most successful four-year cross country careers in the area. Walker was in the top-5 of all seven of her races, including wins at Junction City, league and regionals, and a second place finish at the Class 6A state meet.

Megan Ballinger * Sophomore * Goddard

The perfect example of peaking at the right time, the Goddard sophomore punctuated a dynamic season with a fifth place finish at the Class 6A state meet in a time of 15:45. In a season that saw Goddard field arguably its most successful team in school history, Ballinger was the steadying force at top for the Lions. She only placed in the top-5 of three of her eight races this season before state, but Ballinger showed why she is just one of the many bright future stars in the area at state.

Amber Green * Sophomore * Derby

Almost identical to teammate Emily Hornbeck, Green was part of the state’s most productive one-two punch for Derby. After finishing behind Hornbeck four of five times during the regular season, Green peaked at just the right time – at regionals (second) and at state (eighth). Only sophomores, Green and Hornbeck will return next season as two of the top runners in the area once again.

Molly Milbourn * Junior * El Dorado

One of the most recognizable names in the area, Milbourn once again finished with another spectacular season to her name. Milbourn started the season with five consecutive victories and picked up her sixth at the league meet. But with the emergence of Wedekind in 4A, the El Dorado junior finished second at regionals and third at state. One of the most well-conditioned athletes in the area, Milbourn will look to recapture the state title next season.

Brian Wetta * Coach * Goddard

Goddard may have never been a state title contender like Bishop Carroll and it certainly didn’t have the depth or the talent the Eagles had, but what it did have was determination. Working little cross country experience, Wetta coaxed his girls’ team to a surprise win over Derby at league – the first league title in school history for Goddard. Illness derailed the season late, but Wetta was able to make the Lions a power again in the area.