Bluejay harriers compete at Salina
Men's team finishes third, women take fourth
Tabor cross country team competed Saturday at the Kansas Wesleyan Invitational held at Salina's Bill Burke Park.
Led by a pair of top-15 finishers, the men's team managed to secure a third place finish a meager four points behind winner Highland Community College and runner-up McPherson with 82 points.
The Lady Bluejays also got a pair of finishers in the top 15 to grab fourth place behind Sterling, Friends, and Hutchinson Community College, respectively, scoring 70 points.
For the men, Jeff Anenson and Kyle Larson paced the field, with Anenson taking eighth in 29:56 and Larson coming in six spots behind in 30:22.
"Jeff ran an outstanding race today and broke 30:00 for the first time this season," Bluejay coach Karol Hunt said. "He ran with great determination.
"Kyle continues to be our most consistent runner. He had a good start and continued to move up throughout the race. The men raced really well and I am really pleased with the progress of this group. They were rewarded for their work ethic."
Hunt has put emphasis on consistency and mental focus in practice and the two paid dividends Saturday for freshman Richard Galli.
Galli finished 23rd on a difficult course with a season-high time of 31:17.
Matt Lynam was 25th (31:35), Kyle Larson took 26th (31:37), and Zac Remboldt came in 30th (32:31).
Brandon Voth was 41st (33:36), and Will Higerd was 44th (34:11) to round out the field of 57 for the Bluejays.
Heidi Schmidt led the women, finishing the five-kilometer course in a fifth-place time of 20:48 for an award.
"After somewhat of a slow start, Heidi was smooth today and she ran her strongest race of the season," Hunt said. "She was not able to run a lot of miles this summer so she is just returning to top form."
Bridgitte Stevens captured the number-two spot for Tabor, taking 11th in 21:18.
Two was the magic number for Amber Wiens as she ran a 22nd place time of 22:22.
"Amber showed a lot of character today," said Hunt. "A hip injury is causing a lot of pain and she just gutted it out. Nothing was going to keep her from racing."
Tiffany Stevens came in 27th (22:39), Shelby Miller was 33rd (22:52), and Ashley Schmidt snagged 35th (22:59).
Rebekah Lockhart finished 46th in 23:59.
"The women raced well on a pretty tough course," said Hunt. "We're young, but we're gaining a lot of experience. The conference race at the end of the season will be close and this kind of competition is preparing us well."
The Bluejays travel Saturday to Winfield for the NAIA Mid-States Championship hosted by Southwestern College.
The women are slated for a 10:15 a.m. start with the men starting 45 minutes later.
Women's Results
5. H. Schmidt, 20:48. 11. B. Stevens, 21:18. 22. Wiens, 22:22. 27. T. Stevens, 22:39. 33. Miller, 22:52. 35. A. Schmidt, 22;59. 46. Lockhart, 23:59.
Men's
8. Anenson, 29:56. 14. Kyle Larson, 30:22. 23. Galli, 31:17. 25. Lynam, 31:35. 26. Kyle Larson, 31:37. 30. Remboldt, 32:31. 41. Voth, 33:36. 44. Higerd, 34:11.
