Pickens and boys' cross country team off to state
Staff writer
Freshman Lauren Pickens and the Peabody-Burns High School boys' cross country team earned the right Saturday to compete at the state meet this Saturday at Wamego.
The runners competed at the 2A Sterling regional, where three PBHS runners medaled in the top 10. The boys' team finished as regional runner-up behind first-place Sterling.
Pickens completed the 4K course in 19 minutes flat, earning ninth place. She will run at 10 a.m. Saturday.
"Lauren ran well," head coach Kim Topham said. "She is a tough competitor with a strong desire to do well."
Aaron Topham led the boys' team with a sixth-place finish in the 5K race. He completed the course in 19:27.
Duane Unruh also medaled for PBHS with an eighth-place finish and a time of 19:42. The remainder of the Warriors' squad all finished in the top-30.
Ryan Wiebe was 13th with a time of 20:13. Kendal Wiebe (14th, 20:32), Sheldon Wiebe (15th, 20:40), Josh Klarmann (18th, 20:56), and Seth Methvin (30th, 22:25) were the final boys' runners. The team will compete at 9 a.m. Saturday at Wamego.
"We had all seven runners in the top-30, so that was outstanding," Coach Topham said. "Times were slow due to the windy, hilly course, but I know the team will be ready to compete next week."
It is the fourth year in a row the team has qualified for the state meet.
