Sports editor
With three runners in the top-11 Thursday at the Marion High School invitational, the Warrior boys’ team edged out Peabody-Burns for second place.
Fifty-nine runners competed in the race.
Louis Holt (fourth), Ryan Jones (10th), and Andy Shipman (11th) helped Marion score 63 points, and defeat PBHS by two. Andover Central captured the championship with 49 points.
It was the first time Holt was the Warriors’ top finisher this season, running the 5k race in 18:27.70 seconds.
“I thought I did pretty good because community service day was today,” Holt said with a laugh. “I had to pick up a five-hour energy drink.”
Jones kept his top-10 streak alive, with a time of 18:51.77.
About a quarter-mile into the race, he noticed one of his shoes was untied. When it felt like his shoe was sliding off, he had no choice but to stop and tie it.
“I waited a little bit, and then I decided I had to tie it,” Jones said.
Holt, who usually runs in the front of the pack compared to Jones who starts off slow and makes a run toward the end of the race, was expecting to see his teammate at anytime.
“I kept waiting for Ryan, and that stinks he had to tie his shoe,” Holt said.
Sophomore Andy Shipman was one place behind Jones with a time of 19:02.18, and helped seal the runner-up spot.
Shipman was just three spots ahead of Peabody-Burns’ Josh Klarmann.
Michael Kirkpatrick and Brandon Meierhoff were the final MHS varsity runners who had their scores count toward team points.
Kirkpatrick set a personal record at 19:26.99, and earned the second-to-last medal after taking 19th.
Meierhoff, who is finally healthy after being sick earlier in the season, was 32nd.
Philip Gu (22:10, 50th), and Max Wagner (22:47, 53rd), both set personal records.
Derek Stuchlik was 18th in the junior varsity race with a time of 22:55.
Warrior head coach Bethany Carlson was pleased with the team’s performance.
“We wanted the guys’ team to be more competitive this week, and [it was],” she said.
Injuries and illness again limited the Warriors girls’ team to just four runners, keeping them from counting their individual finishes toward team points.
Seniors Camille Christensen and Amanda Richmond each missed their third straight meet.
However, Carlson was excited all four who did run set personal records.
Jaclyn DeForest medaled in 11th place with a 4k time of 17:25, Anna Laurin (18:16) was 22nd, Bridget Lundy’s time of 18:49 was good for 26th, and Taylor Harms came in 29th with a time of 19:06.
Forty competitors ran in the race.
Both teams will run Thursday at Halstead.
“Our hope as coaches is having everyone healthy and running this week,” Carlson said.
None of the current Warriors have run the Halstead course, which runs through a local golf course.
“I think it will be interesting to see what it’s like,” Jones said.
boys’ results (5K)
Varsity race (59 runners)
Louis Holt – 18:31, fourth.*
Ryan Jones – 18:51, 10th.*
Andy Shipman – 19:02, 11th.*
Michael Kirkpatrick – 19:26@, 19th.*
Brandon Meierhoff – 20:40, 32.
Philip Gu – 22:10@, 50th.
Max Wagner – 22:47@, 53.
*Denotes medal.
@Denotes personal record
Junior varsity (40 runners)
Derek Stuchlik – 22:55, 18th.
Girls’ results (4K)
Varsity (40 runners)
Jaclyn DeForest – 17:25@, 11th.*
Anna Laurin – 18:16@, 22nd.
Bridget Lundy – 18:49@, 26th.
Taylor Harms – 19:06@, 29th.
*Denotes medal.
@Denotes personal record.