The thrill-ride that was expected for the Eastern Kansas
League cross country championships this past week was just that…and maybe a
little more.
Blue Valley Northwest freshman Riley Beach started the
fireworks in the girls' varsity race when she out-leaned the defending class 5A
state champion Olivia Sovereign of St. Thomas Aquinas for the individual title.
Beach finished in 18:31.20, the fastest time run by a Kansas
girl this week. Sovereign, a junior, was the runner-up in 18:31.60. Beach's win
established the freshman as the favorite heading into the 6A regionals and
state meet, while Sovereign will be a favorite to repeat as the 5A state
champion in a couple weeks.
But the excitement didn't end with the razor-close finish
between Beach and Sovereign. In fact, EKL runners had the top five girls' times
in Kansas this week, and 14 of the top 20.
Blue Valley North's Lily Strauss (18:53.80), St. James Academy's Sarah Murrow (18:59.20) and Blue Valley North's Sophie...