The Southeast Lancers brought a blend of team tactics, personal records, and podium finishes to the fairways of Brush Creek Golf Course on Tuesday, Sept. 29, for their fifth cross country meet of the season.
With midseason conditioning well underway, Head Coach Julie Jones treated the meet as a testing ground for her veteran runners.
“This is the race where we have a bit of fun,” Jones said. “The upperclassmen help pace a teammate, or they get to decide if they want to test out a new race strategy.”
Senior Leadership Sets the Pace
Senior Hudson Locke threw out his original plan almost as soon as the gun sounded. Originally intending to hang back around 15th place during the early stretch of the 5K, Locke quickly realized the lead group wasn’t moving fast enough for his liking.
“The pace was too slow,” Locke said of his decision to break away early.
Locke surged through the pack into third place, locked down the position, and never looked back, crossing the finish line with a time of 19:44.
Further back in the boys’ varsity race, teamwork took center stage. Teammates Tucker Sutton and Chris Archey ran stride-for-stride alongside Henry Burns to keep him on target. The strategy worked like clockwork: the trio crossed the line in consecutive order, with Burns capturing 30th place, Archey taking 31st, and Sutton finishing 32nd.
Robinson and Rimmer Medal in Girls’ Varsity
The Lady Lancers produced a pair of top-10 performances in the girls’ varsity 5K, anchored by experienced senior leadership.
Jackie Robinson went straight to work at the front of the pack, sticking with the leaders from the opening stretch. Her aggressive race strategy earned her a fifth-place medal with a time of 25:20.
Journee Rimmer took the opposite tactical approach, relying on patience and endurance. After biding her time around 15th place through the opening mile, Rimmer steadily hunted down runners through the middle stages of the course. Her late push secured a 9th-place finish in 26:41, handing the Lancers two varsity medalists on the day.
Underclassmen Deliver Personal Bests in JV Divisions
While the upperclassmen experimented with strategy, Jones kept instructions simple for the younger squad: go out, run hard, and compete.
In the JV two-mile race, freshman Avery Locke set a new personal record of 16:47 to take home sixth place and a medal. Locke credited the crowd along the course for keeping her focused through the toughest stretches.
“Having my dad, brother, and others cheering me on really helps me,” Locke said. “When I’m not exactly able to make any sense, other people talking to me during the race helps me get my mind back on track.”
Molly Alartosky battled through her first competitive two-mile race to finish 12th in 18:30—just two spots shy of the medal stand. Abby Shoemaker followed closely, shaving down her personal best with a 19:18 mark to take 15th.
“They all raced really well today,” Jones said. “Of course you want to see times improve, but Avery moved up well and held strong, Molly showed how tough she can be, and Abby responded when coaches instructed her. They’re showing how bright the future of the program is.”
On the boys’ side, James Maxton dominated his race from wire to wire, leading wire-to-wire to capture his third individual title of his young career.
“When you’re all by yourself, pushing and running hard is tough. You’ve got to figure out a way to race yourself or race the clock,” Jones said of Maxton’s solo run. “That’s why I’m excited for him to be in varsity races from here on out. He’ll have competition to push him, to challenge him.”
Up Next
The Lancers now head into a week-and-a-half training block before traveling to compete at the Jayhawk-Linn Invitational.
