Tonganoxie High cross country splits dual with Lansing, runs well ‘across board’
Shawn F. Linenberger/Staff
Tonganoxie High's Parker Welsh nears the finish line with teammate Solomon Carter right behind Saturday during the annual dual against Lansing. Welsh placed second and Solomon at the Leavenworth County Fairgrounds. They led THS to the team win.On an unseasonably but welcomed cool, crisp morning Saturday, the Tonganoxie High boys cross country team defeated Lansing, 21-35, in the team’s longstanding annual dual. LHS won the girls dual, 21-38, but THS coach John Tollefson had plenty of reason to be happy about both teams’ performances on the home course at the Leavenworth County Fairgrounds.
He told the team after the meet that many runners improved on their times from the Red/White scrimmage a week before and competed pretty well against a strong 5A program in Lansing.
“Across the board, it was an outstanding job,” Tollefson said. “I liked how they executed.”
Tonganoxie High’s Kara Johnson crosses the finish line during the Lansing dual Sept. 2, 2023, at the Leavenworth County Fairgrounds.
Tollefson preaches about runners needing to run in groups, and the boys team excelled in that department on Saturday.
Tonganoxie did not win the individual title, but Parker Welsh, Carter Solomon, Michael Bottary and Jett Gilmore finished in second through fifth place, respectively. Huston Albert placed 11th and Piercen Eccles 12th, while several other runners finished within close proximity of each other.
“Run as a group,” Tollefson told his team after the race. “The power of a group is huge.”
When runners get into “no man’s land,” by themselves, it can be difficult to set a good pace, Tollefson explained.
On the girls side, Tollefson commended the squad for breaking up a perfect score by Lansing.
The top seven runners are scored at meets, with the top five counting for the team total. The sixth and seventh runners are scored in the event of tiebreakers.
Kara Johnson placed second and Kinnley Hoffhines third for the Chieftains against the Lions. Abby Burkhart placed eighth and Autumn Wilson 11th.
“That’s a very solid Lansing team,” Tollefson said. “That’s a state team.”
Lansing and Tonganoxie’s early season dual is the longest continuously running cross country event in the state. Saturday’s dual marked the 56th consecutive annual race between the two Leavenworth County schools.
Up next for Tonganoxie will be the Wamego Invitational at 9 a.m. Saturday. The meet will give runners a chance to run on the state course.
The Chieftains will then be back home a week later for the Tonganoxie Invitational. Races will be that morning at the Leavenworth County Fairgrounds. Other teams competing alongside THS will be Basehor-Linwood, Bishop Seabury, FL Schlagle, Heritage Christian Academy, JC Harmon, Piper, Pleasant Ridge, St. Mary’s Academy, Turner, Veritas Christian, Washington and Wyandotte.
Tonganoxie boys 25, Lansing 31
2. Parker Welsh (2), 17:45; 3. Carter Solomon (3), 17:46; 4. Michael Bottary (4), 17:54; 5. Jett Gilmore (5), 18:08; 11. Huston Albert (11), 19:56; 12. Piercen Eccles (12), 19:56; 19. Emmett Crookham (14), 22:14; 20. Ben Plake, 22:31; 21. Joseph Turner, 22:46; 23. Roman Staples, 23:59; 24. Westyn Reischman, 24:17; 25. Brayden Fugate, 24:48; 26. Taylor Maslak, 25:38; 27. TJ Schmid, 25:40; 28. Chamberlain Albert, 25:48; 29. Harold Meer, 26:36; 30. Alex Washington, 26:49.
Lansing girls 21, Tonganoxie 38
2. Kara Johnson (3), 22:04; 3. Kinnley Hoffhines (4), 22:05; 8. Abby Burkhart (8), 24:11; 11. Autumn Wilson (11), 24:54; 16. Gracelyn Barnett (12), 26:03; 18. Kate Wilson (13), 26:38; 19. Elena Edholm (14), 26:49; 20. Molly Cullen, 27:15; 21. Kylee Cobb, 27:18; 22. Madi Ziolo, 27:45; 23. Dayton Schoenhofer, 27:48; 24. Alaina Rogers, 27:53; 26. Harlee Morando, 28:14; 27. Addie Dean, 28:21; 28. Macie Murray, 28:57; 29. Emiline Liebeno, 28:58; 31. Mary Graveman, 29:49; 32. Kayla Thornton, 29:53; 34. Brooklin Rich, 30:22; 36. Emerson Maslak, 32:44; 37. Kate Carter, 36:22; 38. Emma Knetter, 38:33.