HHS gains experience at 5A meet
By KLINT SPILLER
kspiller@dailynews.net
LAWRENCE -- For the Hays High cross country team, Saturday was a valuable learning experience.
The Indians finished 10th as a team with 248 points at the Class 5A State Championships at Rim Rock Farm. The Indians finished just three points short of ninth-place Winfield.
Hays High coach Jerold Harris said it was a good meet for his team, especially since no one on the Hays High squad had ever run at the state meet before.
"Our young guys grabbed a lot of valuable experience today," Harris said.
Junior Derek Drees, a first-year cross country runner, led the squad, finishing 40th in 17 minutes, 45 seconds on the 5,000-meter course.
"I am not very happy with (my finish), because my PR is like 17," Drees said.
"I was hoping to run a 17:15 or less. But it was pretty hard course, so I guess I am all right with it."
Junior Joshua Brungardt finished 47th in 17:53 and senior Dallas Kaiser finished 65th in 18:16.
Sophomore Landon Munsch and Kendall Kandt rounded out the scoring finishing 69th and 91st.
"We'll lose seniors Dallas Kaiser and Jake Nelson, but we've got five kids ready to step into those two spots," Harris said. "It is exciting for next year already. It was important for them to see what it was like."