Bella Lane

Staff Writer

The Manhattan High Junior Varsity Cross Country team flew into their second meet, the Emporia Invitational. The J.V. girls team took first as a team. They had a total of 27 points and an average time of 23:17.

MHS had four girls in the top 10, all with times under 24 minutes. With a time of 22:15.20, freshman Morgan Turner took first. Turner says this is her new personal record and she hopes to beat it at future meets. Freshman Anika Nyp came in second with her new PR, 22:56.10.

“[Placing so high] was a great feeling, it was just super cool, and it was just a really great experience and kind of freaky,” Nyp said.

Clarissa Nivens, junior, came in fifth with a time of 23:32.30. Right behind followed sophomore Rylee Felice with a time of 23:35.20.

The J.V. boys team also took first overall with an average of 19:00 and 15 points overall. They had six boys in the top 10 with all of them, but one being in the top five. Brady Foltz, junior, came in first with a time of 18:50.10. Following him was junior Luke Wichmann with a time of 18:50.20. In third was freshman Max Bowyer with a time of 19:02.50. Behind him was sophomore Kendric Bruce at fourth, with junior Declan Weixelman placing at fifth.

“To run against kids at so many different ages isn’t too bad in my opinion everyone is a competitor to me so I just try to run my best and see where that takes me,” Bowyer said.

This meet was a 5 kilometer race, 3.1 miles. MHS’ first meet was 2.1 miles. J.V. girls placed third in the first meet. The boys still placed first, but with 28 points. In this longer distance race both boys and girls placed scored higher, with majority of the team doing personally better.

For many of the runners who have a good outlook on the season since the beginning, their thoughts are becoming reality. Although the runners can’t predict the future, a large amount of them believe if they keep winning and pushing themselves like they have been, state will be in their future.

“I think we have a very strong bond as a team we are always encouraging each other to go hard and beat their best. We always push each to our hardest. Before every meet we always do a prayer and wish each other well,” Turner said

The team’s next meet will be at 4 p.m. on Tuesday in Tonganoxie.

This online exclusive story is written as an assignment for 21st Century Journalism, Manhattan High’s introductory journalism class.