Racing at the 36th Annual Southern Stampede in Joplin, Missouri, an extensive grassy, foliage filled track and a sprawl of hundreds of other racers set the scene for a strong performance by the Manhattan High School cross country team last Saturday, Sept. 20, with the MHS girls taking first place as a team.
“It’s a really big meet with a lot of good schools, they’re good competition,” junior Gabby Converse said.
The competition was daunting, with 31 teams lined up for girls Varsity and 35 teams on the boys Varsity side. Varsity girls achieved their first place with an overall score of 96, Gabby Converse placing the highest of the team at fifth place with a time of 18.03. Junior Varsity girls earned first as well, scoring a total of 36, the top runner being Olivia Ruhl at second place with a time of 12:52.
“It’s definitely very special,” Converse said.
These first place wins are historic for the girls teams. The girls ran with dominant numbers over the other teams in the third race of this season.
“They were solid,” head coach Susan Melgares said, “They impressed us, [and went] above expectations.”
Varsity boys placed 10th with a score of 314 and Willson Wesch at 45th place with a time of 16:21 as the highest score for the boys.
The cloudy sky races were in between a sandwich of thunderstorms beforehand and after. Delays on the collegiate level pushed things a bit back. 60 to 70 degree weather, with a breakthrough of perfect, windy fairness during the races could explain the entire meet. Expectations were high despite the previous conditions, not dampening spirits that day.
Compared to the previous two races with their more bumpy paths, the Joplin course’s natural terrain was smooth and flat, no mud pits despite the weather.
“Like here at home at Warner Park, it’s extremely rough. Out of all the courses though, it was really flat,” junior Benjamin Huser said.
The finish line is unanimously a relief for all runners, no matter the race. PRs were broken that day and hard work was shown through numbers and actions.
“I was just really tired. Kind of glad to be done honestly,” Converse said. “But I looked at the clock and saw my time and I got really excited.”
Being the third meet this season, there’s so much more to be done and so much potential brimming from each and every racer.
“We’re basically trying to be tough and run tough in whatever conditions we face,” Melgares said.
The next meet is on Wednesday, Sept. 24, at Olathe North.
