NEODESHA — Running a clean race through muddy, slogged conditions, the Chanute Blue Comets boys captured the KSHSAA 4A Regional title in Neodesha on Saturday and are poised to make a run at the state title.
“It’s really fun to bring that trophy home,” Chanute head coach Brett Rinehart said. “I’m happy for the kids. They’ve put in a lot of hard work and they deserve it. Regionals is all about getting to state. But it’s a lot more fun when we bring that first place trophy back home. They get to add it to the trophy case.”
Chanute’s boys matched their SEK League showing by taking the top four spots in the race — Tucker Applegate won the race, Jaron Powers took runner-up, Easton Colborn third and Tyler Rowden fourth.
“Our strategy was the same from league and we were the favorites to win the race,” Rinehart said. “I told them to get out strong and they separated themselves early on. We were projected to go 1-2-3, but then the pack pulled away from Bishop Miege’s runner. As long as we maintained, we knew we’d finish in that order.”
Applegate ran a mark of 18:30 while Powers was at 18:35.
“Tucker’s just a super strong runner,” Rinehart said. “The course didn’t do any favors for him. Tight corners with those long legs are super tough on him. It was fun to watch him and Jaron battle it out. Jaron would catch him on turns and then Tucker would run hard on the straightaways. Tucker has been really strong in the last mile all year and pull away. That’s what he did. He’s just got a lot of guts and can really push it when it gets tough.”
Chanute registered 25 points to finish in first place in the boys race. Bishop Miege was second at 75 points, followed by Fort Scott (86), Louisburg (92), Labette County (97), Coffeyville (131) and Independence (162).
Saturday’s cold and rain made for a battered race.
“We knew the course was wet and we told them to not worry about times,” Rinehart said. “We just wanted to be in a position to qualify. The course was very spectator friendly but not very runner friendly. There were sharper-than-90-degree turns. Those are hard to maneuver in dry conditions. Kids were slipping and falling all over the place. Our kids avoided that for the most part. But the rain plus the course just made it really tough.”
Joshua Schoenhofer finished 16th in the boys race with a time of 20:57. Rinehart believes Schoenhofer will be the runner that potentially determines whether or not the Blue Comets can capture a state title in Wamego this coming Saturday.
“Joshua is the X-factor,” Rinehart said. “If our top four can do what they’ve done all season at state, Joshua will be the difference between us being at the podium and having a shot at the state title or not.”
Hillmon qualifies for state in girls race Chanute’s Laney Hillmon, the SEK League champion, booked her ticket to state by placing 10th at regionals with at ime of 23:54.
“I thought she ran really well. She faded a little bit in the second half in the race,” Rinehart said. “But she had her spot secured if she maintained and that’s what she did. Louisburg and Paola had really good teams and she was right in the mix. She kept herself safe and had a solid race.”
Louisburg won the regional title on the girls side as a team with 39 points. Paola was second with 46 points, followed by Fort Scott (64), Labette County (94) and Bishop Miege (97).
Up next
Chanute heads to the KSHSAA 4A Cross Country Championships in Wamego on Saturday.
Chanute’s boys are among three favorites to win a state title as a team. Host Wamego is the favorite based on seed times, with Chanute sitting at second and Andale third.
“Training wise, we just need to keep everybody healthy,” Rinehart said. “The training has been done. Now we just need to keep our routines. Based on how we run, anything short of the podium will be a disappointment. And I’m preaching to the kids that we’re in the mix to win it. You don’t get these chances very often. But this team is our best in school history. I want them to have a trophy to remember that.”
