Allen places 5th vs. big-school runners

Phyllis Richert photo

Phyllis Richert photo Battling runners from Class 5A and 6A schools, Hillsboro senior Joel Allen placed fifth at the J.K. Gold Classic cross-country meet Saturday near Augusta.

Competing in a field of 68 runners, Allen lowered his personal record over a 5-kilometer course by 10 seconds to 16 minutes, 48 seconds.

?That?s an outstanding first-race time,? coach Stuart Holmes said.

Evan Landes of Mulvane won the race in 16:08.

The remaing Trojan boys ran in the junior varsity race. Bret Mueller placed third in 18:07, followed by Josh Richert in fourth in 18:09, Justin King 11th in 18:59, Avery Franz 23rd in 20:00, Daniel Gray 60th in 22:13 and Clay Etheridge 64th.

?Even though it was only the first meet, three of the top four guys ran their best time ever,? Holmes said.

For the girls, Samantha Ens placed 19th in the J.V. girls? 4-kilometer race with a time of 19:22 and Erin Wiebe was 33rd in the field of 43 runners in 21:16.

Two members of the girls? team, Brenna Blackketter and Michaela Hinerman, were unable to compete because of illness and injury, respectively.

Coming?The Trojans will compete at 10 a.m. Saturday at Wamego, site of the state race in late October.

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