Rim Rock Farm is widely considered one of the most punishing cross country courses in the state of Kansas. Add days of relentless rain that turned rolling hills into a sloppy mud fest, and Saturday’s Rim Rock Classic demanded pure toughness from every runner on the grounds.
Inclement weather was nothing new for the Vikings, though. Unshaken by the swampy footing, the squad stepped onto the Lawrence course and delivered competitive performances across massive fields.
In an event hosting hundreds of programs and thousands of competitors across eight divisions, the boys earned a strong 6th-place team finish among 74 schools in the Blue Division. That marks four straight years of elite consistency for the Viking boys at Rim Rock, adding to a streak that includes finishes of 2nd, 1st, and 14th.
Meanwhile, the Viking girls made a major statement of their own, taking 14th place out of 67 teams. That performance marked a 19-spot jump from their 33rd-place team finish on the very same course just a year ago.
Meyer Earns Hardware in Loaded 391-Runner Field
Nobody walked into Saturday expecting PR-friendly racing conditions. Instead, success came down to withstanding Mother Nature and maneuvering through deep packs.
Josiah Meyer set the pace for the boys’ squad in a stacked field of 391 runners. Running a calculated, intelligent race, Meyer picked his spots through the slick stretches and closed with grit to capture 14th place overall in 17:31.99, earning an individual medal.
Stetson Miller was right behind the medal pack, taking 30th place with a time of 18:00.07. Knox Cannady turned in his best race of the fall, clocking 18:50.96 for 66th place, while Ben Wuertz conquered the course in 18:53.67 for 69th. The finish was especially rewarding for Wuertz, who completed the loop successfully after a fall kept him from crossing the finish line at last year’s meet.
Sawyer Lickteig notched his top outing of the season to place 169th (20:10.47). Cash Miller (171st, 20:11.52) and Timothy Carmack-Roberts (283rd, 21:56.58) fought through lower-leg injuries to gut out tough finishes for their team.
Pack Running Powers Viking Girls to 14th Overall
In the girls’ Blue Division race, Ebony Hughes sparked the attack against a field of 273 runners. Hughes jumped into the front third of the pack early and held firm, finishing 52nd in 22:31.89.
The Vikings’ scoring trio stayed tight, with Lily Burkdoll and Mackenzie Moon working in tandem just strides behind Hughes. Burkdoll secured 66th in 22:49.11, while Moon crossed moments later in 69th with a time of 22:51.77. The three have pushed each other near the front of races all autumn, and that tight spread proved critical in vaulting the squad up the team leaderboard.
Kamden Moon delivered her best effort of the season to grab the team’s fourth spot, finishing 170th (25:10.29) just ahead of Katelyn Burkdoll in 175th (25:17.75). Elizabeth Meyer rounded out the lineup in 216th (26:36.14), gaining valuable experience against top-tier competition on a grueling championship-level layout.
Course & Team Results
Varsity Boys (Blue Division – 5K)
Team: 6th place (74 teams)
- 14th: Josiah Meyer – 17:31.99 (Medalist)
- 30th: Stetson Miller – 18:00.07
- 66th: Knox Cannady – 18:50.96
- 69th: Ben Wuertz – 18:53.67
- 169th: Sawyer Lickteig – 20:10.47
- 171st: Cash Miller – 20:11.52
- 283rd: Timothy Carmack-Roberts – 21:56.58
Varsity Girls (Blue Division – 5K)
Team: 14th place (67 teams)
- 52nd: Ebony Hughes – 22:31.89
- 66th: Lily Burkdoll – 22:49.11
- 69th: Mackenzie Moon – 22:51.77
- 170th: Kamden Moon – 25:10.29
- 175th: Katelyn Burkdoll – 25:17.75
- 216th: Elizabeth Meyer – 26:36.14
(Photo Credits: Troy Prosser)
