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Runners blazing in practice

By Keith Burner - | Aug 30, 2000

When the Tonganoxie High School cross country team begins regular season competition tomorrow, the team should do well.

Were looking real good. Were improving with every workout, said Coach Phil Williams. Of course you never run as fast in practice as you do during the course of a meet.

Which can only mean good things for the Chieftains, since they have been turning in blazing times during practice on the same course they will compete on at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Tonganoxie Quad.

Last week in practice junior Alan Davis ran the course just 40 seconds off the course record of 17:06.

Coach Williams said that Davis finished 50 or 60 yards ahead of second place.

He put in a lot of time in the off-season, he said.

Two other top runners for the boys squad are Kyle Norris and Matt Needham.

Williams said that there were a whole group of runners right behind Needham and Norris.

The boys arent the only ones putting in good practice runs.

Sophomore Laura Korb, who had a successful freshman season, was among several girls who have been fast in practice.

She looked good, Williams said. She came in a couple hundred yards ahead of the rest of the team.

Juniors Alicia Stauch and Erin Seymour also have been putting in good practices, Williams said.

The team seems to be in shape, but if anything will hamper the Chieftains tomorrow, it could be injuries.

Three Chieftains are questionable for the meet.

For the girls squad, Alicia Stauch has tendonitis in her knee. She might not run.

On the boys side, Stephen Dunlap has a strained hip and Matt Needham has strep throat. Both are questionable as well.

But Williams is optimistic.

We have a chance to do real well, he said. Lansing, Basehor and Kansas City Christian will be at the meet.