There was tough competition on an unseasonably warm morning at Jesse James Park in Kearney Saturday morning which ended with several medals and a lot of Personal Records for Chillicothe Cross Country.
This is typically the toughest meet the team attends competitively, as it is primarily Class 4 & 5 schools, but the competition usually makes for some faster times even though it’s not the fastest of courses.
Many returners had their fastest course personal bests despite it being about 30 degrees warmer than it previously has been for this meet, so many Hornets are faster right now than they have previously been at this point in the season.
Medalists out of 173 runners
Luke Thompson – 6th – 16:15. He finished with Class 4 & 5 top runners and hit about a 40 second course personal record and big season best. He is definitely looking stronger at this point in the season than last year.
Cain Evans – 22nd – 16:55. Mostly just Class 4 & 5 runners ahead of him. Also a 15 second course personal record in much warmer conditions, so also looking stronger right now than previous seasons at this point.
Alton Keller – 75th – 18:37. Almost a course personal record. He hadn’t felt well the days leading into the race, so for him to end up within 15 seconds of his previous course best in much warmer temperatures and not 100% healthy is a great indicator that he is heading into the last month strong.
The Chillicothe boys finished 13th place overall out of 45 schools and 20 full teams, just 2 points behind Oak Park and 10 behind Kearney. “We know we get faster finishing 13th out of a field of larger, faster schools than 1st in a small schools meet, so we will take these results,” said Coach Dickson.
The Hornets also came away with a ton of Career Personal Records despite this not being the easiest of courses:
