Cross country team makes history

The cross country team followed up its first district championship in school history with an even more impressive feat a week later.

Winning their first sectional championship in school history at Longview Community College, the Hawklets defeated a very talented field of eight teams with a total of 54 points, just finishing ahead of Lee’s Summit North by 12 points.

The team had six out of its seven runners earn a medal in the meet. Senior Zach Herriott won the race by more than 20 seconds with a time of 15:25, and averaged 4:58 per mile.

Senior Ryan McAnany joined Herriott in the top 10 with a time of 16:16, averaging 5:14 per mile.

Seniors Tanner Shuey, Ryan Smith, and Kevin Jantsch, and junior Van Schloegel all finished among the top 30 runners.

Rockhurst will compete for the state title this Saturday in Jefferson City, but Mr. Michael Dierks, head coach, isn’t going into the meet with an all-or-nothing mindset.

“I want us to race our absolute best and see where that gets us,” Coach Dierks said.  “If that means that we are state champions by doing that, that’s great.  If that means that we bring home a trophy, and only a trophy, that’s great too.”

Coach Dierks said that he felt the team went into districts a little rusty and overconfident after not having raced in a few weeks but Herriott doesn’t feel like that will continue into state, mainly due to the team’s experience and leadership.

“Everybody just needs to get on the same page and realize that we only have one race left in our Rockhurst career, and for some people, the last race of their career ever,” Herriott said.

Rockhurst will compete against 15 other teams for the state title, and the team will have a target on their back going into the meet, according to Lee’s Summit North senior Kolton Sheldon. Sheldon told the Kansas City Star after the race, “Now our goal is to beat Rockhurst.”

Tags cross-country featured herriott mcanany schloegel sectionals shuey smith