“Our goal was to come in and place in the top five,” MHS coach George Karn said.

The Bulldogs placed fifth out of 12 state teams with 151 points. Ellsworth won the meet with 58 points, while Riley County placed second (83), Garden Plain third (120) and Osage City fourth (146).

According to Karn, the fifth-place finish was the highest for an MHS cross country or track squad at state since at least 1981. That was when Karn started coaching at MHS.

This year’s state meet also was special for the Bulldogs because of who they finished higher than.

Beloit, which won McLouth’s regional, finished sixth at just behind MHS by two points. Kansas City Christian, which defeated McLouth at the Delaware Valley League meet, finished seventh with 165.

McLouth, however, is no stranger to placing at Wamego. The Bulldogs won the Wamego Invitational earlier in the year. Karn said having some experience on the course during the regular season is beneficial.

“We think so,” Karn said. “It helps if you know what the conditions are.”

Smelser competes at Wamego

Senior Scott Smelser finished 39th as an individual runner for the Bulldogs.

Although the Bulldogs couldn’t place as a team for the second consecutive year, Smelser did finish strong for the Bulldogs as an individual qualifier.

“He’s tough,” Karn said about Smelser. “He’s a good kid.”