Ryan Jones
Hett, Jones medal at state race
Staff writer
Two Marion cross-country runners medaled at state and, respectively, opened and closed strong running careers.
Ryan Jones and Jordan Hett were placed on the far northwest side of the starting line, but Hett stumbled at the opening gun. He dropped to one knee and was able to regain his composure to fight his way to the middle of the pack as the race started uphill.
“I just knew that I couldn’t get far behind,” Hett said.
As the race started up one of the first of many steep, arduous hills, both runners were running with the second pack, Hett at 18 and Jones at 20. Both runners steadily moved up during the race except that Jones leveled out at 18 and Hett kept climbing.
“When you’re going downhill you have to try to pass,” Hett said.
Hett finished the race in ninth place with a time of 17 minutes, 40.07 seconds. He was the only freshman runner in the top 10 and only one of two freshmen in the top 25. Jones, a senior, finished at 18 with a time of 18:02.63. The top 20 at the race medal so both Marion runners received validation for their efforts.
“Both of these runners will be on the record board (at Marion High School),” head coach Bethany Carlson said. “We haven’t had this good of runners in seven years.”
For Jones, the race marks the end of a sterling cross-country career. It was his second straight medal at state even though he the competition ratcheted up from last year. Jones ran about the same time this year as he did the year before, but he finished two places lower.
“Ryan is just a great runner,” Carlson said. “I’m really excited that Ryan was able to get a medal here.”
For Hett, his ninth-place finish is the climax to his season. He started the season with no cross-country, but Carlson said that he gradually learned pace and timing as he continued running.
“This is his first year going to a cross-country meet,” Carlson said. “He’d come to all the summer runs (team runs Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday). He’s just figured it all out.”
Placement
9. Hett — 17:40.07
18. Jones — 18:02.63