Staff writer
The Warriors boys’ and girls’ cross-country teams each placed fourth Thursday in Abilene in the season’s first meet.
“This is a huge deal,” coach Rebecca Hofer said. “We haven’t had enough runners for boys’ and girls’ full teams in a while. I would love to bring home a team trophy before the end of the year.”
Hofer said hot temperatures affected all of her runners’ performances in one way or another. Many suffered cramping others had asthmatic symptoms.
“However, even with the heat and cramping, I am very proud of our team,” she said. “They fought all the way through the pain and finished hard.”
Marion High runners earned seven individual medals.
Colin Williams placed fourth in the boys’ five-kilometer race with a time of 19:43.1, and McKenzee Remmers placed 11th in the girls’ four-kilometer race at 25:09.1.
Other medal boys’ medal winners were Ethan Darnall in 16th at 22:00.7 and Jarrett Johnson in 22nd at 22:31.4.
Other girls’ medal winners were Emily Hague in 12th at 25:20.9, Meggan Frese in 26th at 28:45.4, and AJ Arterburn in 30th at 32:34.1.
Hofer said some of her runners were disappointed with their times.
“It’s only the first meet,” she said. “We have many more before the season is over.”
Marion’s next meet is at 4 p.m. Thursday in Hesston.