Tonganoxie High boys cross country regional runner-up; girls team also qualifies individuals for state
Shawn F. Linenberger/Staff
Tonganoxie High boys cross country team members celebrate a state berth after taking second at a Class 4A regional Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, on the Johnson County Community College campus. Pictured, from left, are Parker Welsh, Joseph Turner, Michael Bottary, Solomon Carter, Jett Gilmore, Piercen Eccles and Huston Albert. Carter placed third individually.OVERLAND PARK — Tonganoxie High once again will have representation for both the boys and girls cross country teams at state in Wamego.
The THS boys finished as team runner-up, while the girls qualified two individuals Saturday at a Class 4A regional on the Johnson County Community College campus in Overland Park.
Each of the four 4A regionals send the top three teams on to compete as full teams at state and then the Top 5 runners not on those three teams also advance.
The THS girls finished fifth overall, but junior Kara Johnson placed fifth with a time of 20 minutes, 40.56 seconds and senior Kinnley Hoffhines 14th in 21:23.68. Johnson was the No. 2 individual runner outside the state qualifiers, while Hoffhines was No. 4.
Johnson qualified in her first year running for THS. She previously played volleyball, but made the move in the offseason.
Hoffhines heads to state individually for the third straight year. She placed 44th her sophomore year (22:13.69) and 34th last year (22:06.76).
“Kara was really strong in spring track,” THS coach John Tollefson said. “As you can see she’s turned into Top 5 in the region.”
Tonganoxie High’s Kara Johnson, fifth from right, is among the top runners recognized at a Class 4A regional meet Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, at Johnson County Community College. Johnson qualified for state individually after placing fifth, as did teammate Kinnley Hoffhines, who placed 14th.
The mix of the seasoned Hoffhines and the newcomer Johnson has also worked well.
“Kinnley and Kara have been extremely beneficial for both in having someone to run with and keep them accountable,” Tollefson said.
Both regional races featured the defending state champions.
Wamego, looking to win its second straight state title, won the boys regional with 47 points, while Eudora, which could win a third consecutive state crown in a few days, won the girls regional with 48 points. Tonganoxie scored 77 for second in the boys meet, while Baldwin tallied 60 for runner-up on the girls side.
Solomon Carter led the Tonganoxie boys with a third-place finish. The junior completed the course in 16:54. Freshman Parker Welsh, senior Michael Bottary and junior Jett Gilmore also finished in the Top 20. Welsh finished 12th (18:01), Bottary 15th (18:16.23) and Gilmore 20th (18:26.55).
Tonganoxie hadn’t competed on the JCCC course before Saturday, so the squad practiced there Friday. A day later the boys finished as regional runner-up for a second straight season.
“i thought they had a pretty good shot at runner-up,” Tollefson explained. “I knew Baldwin would come with a purpose.And Wamego is just very good.
“We executed our plan just as we should.”
Baldwin finished just six points behind THS for third.
A year go, then-senior Eli Gilmore won the individual state title for the Chieftains as the squad finished seventh overall.
In other 4A regionals, Winfield won both the boys and girls team at the Cherokee Southeast regional, while Buhler swept its own regional in Hutchinson.
The Chapman boys and Clay Center girls won the Wichita regional.
The THS boys will run at 10 a.m. Saturday in their 4A race at the Wamego Country Club golf course. Johnson and Hoffhines will run at 12:45 p.m. in the 4A girls race. Awards for the 4A boys race will be handed out at 12:30 p.m., while the 4A girls awards will be distributed at 12:45 p.m.
BOYS
Team scores
1. Wamego, 47; 2. Tonganoxie, 77; 3. Baldwin, 83; 4. Eudora, 105; 5. Louisburg, 105; 6. Bishop Miege, 153; 7. Ottawa, 164; 8. Holton, 181.
Individual THS results
(Individual winner: Zachary Arnold, sr., Eudora, 16:26.56)
3. Solomon Carter, jr., 16:54.86; 12. Parker Welsh, fr., 18:01.45; 15. Michael Bottary, sr. 18:16.23; 20. Jett Gilmore, jr., 18:26.55; 27. Huston Albert, jr., 19:19.78; 30. Piercen Eccles, jr., 19:30.85; 51. Joseph Turner, 21:22.97
GIRLS
Team scores
1. Eudora, 48; 2. Baldwin, 60; 3. Wamego, 86; 4. Holton, 101; 5. Tonganoxie, 116; 6. Bishop Miege, 119; 7. Louisburg, 154.
Individual THS results
(Individual winner: Hannah Keltner, jr. Eudora, 19:31.43
5. Kara Johnson, jr., 20:40.56; 14. Kinnley Hoffhines, sr., 21:23.68; 30. Abby Burkart, fr., 23:33.83; 33. Autumn Wilson, soph., 24:02.74; 37. Kate Wilson, soph., 24:27.73; 38. Gracelyn Barnett, soph., 24:28.61; 44. Kylee Cobb, fr., 25:21.44.