BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
LAKE BARTON — Great Bend's Sienna Smith knew Salina Central 5A state champion Katelyn Rupe and runner-up Kaylie Schultz would set a fast pace in Thursday's Great Bend Invitational at Lake Barton.
Smith improved by 1:22 from last year (19:39.05) for a fifth-place finish that sparked the Panther girls to first place. Smith understood that Rupe and Schultz run on a higher level.
"I ran a great race today after being excited coming into the season," Smith said. "I thought I'd run good today, and I'm happy about that."
Smith eventually broke ahead of her teammates and kept a steady pace.
"We were supposed to start the first mile and a half together," she said. "But I felt really good and our pace wasn't fast enough. I decided to go out faster, a decision you make while your running. We did really well as a team. We've got a chance to do some good things this year."
Great Bend (42) defended its team title ahead of runner-up Wichita Carroll (66) in perfect 70-degree weather and 5 mph wind. Every Panther runner improved their time from last year.
Eighth-place Marissa Boone (20.01.75) improved 11 seconds. Ninth-place Bella Long (20:02.6) improved 3:30; 15th-place Teah King (23:27) ran 2:41 faster; 21st-place Reese Bullard (21:36.8), 22nd-place Teegan Guerra (22:40.2) was 50 seconds faster and 28th-place Kate Welcher (22:24.26) was 66 seconds faster.
"Teah King and Bella Long have worked their tails off and it's nice to that work pay off," said Great Bend coach Lyles Lashley. "I was pleased, but we have room for improvement."
Boone is the Panthers' senior leader with three seniors and three sophomores.
"Our plan was our top five girls close to the top 10 at the halfway mark," Boone said. "We wanted to attack the second half. We were happy when we passed some Bishop Carroll girls. We worked together as a team today. It's a great first meet. I'm excited for the season."
3-1A GIRLS — Hoisington's Tianna Lutters (21:47.21) earned fifth-medalist honors in the 3-1A girls race. Cardinal Tristin Compton (22;45.3) placed ninth.
4-6A GIRLS TEAM SCORES—1—Great Bend 42; 2—Wichita Carroll 66; 3—Junction City 97; 4—Garden City 112; 5—Maize 136; 6—Buhler 142; 7—McPherson 176; 8—Dodge City 191; 9—Derby 224; 10—Liberal 259; 11—Hays High 294
TOP 10 MEDALISTS—1—Katelyn Rupe, SC, 17:14.86; 2—Kaylie Schultz, SC, 18:05.38; 3—Gwen Sattler, WC, 19:25.19; 4—Anna Fontaine, JC, 19:35.95; 5—Sienna Smith, GB, 19:39.05; 6—Cate Wiese, GC, 19:44.99; 7—Linden Pickler, JC, 19:57.86; 8—Marissa Boone, GB, 20:01.75; 9—Bella Long, 20:02.8; 10—Sophie Ellis, VC, 20:46
GREAT BEND—15—Teah King, 20:46.62; 21—Reese Bullard, 21:36.8; 22—Teegan Guerra, 21:50.37; 28—Kate Welcher 22:24.26
3-1A GIRLS TEAM SCORES—1—SE Saline 21; 2—Holcomb 34
TOP 5 MEDALISTS—1—Ava McGraw, SE, 20:42.98; 2—Jenera Ardery, Holcomb, 21:23.55; 3—Piper Brown, SE, 21:31.9; 4—Regan Duran, SE, 21;42.96; 5—Tianna Lutters, Hoisington, 21:47.21
HOISINGTON—9—Tristin Compton, 22:45.3; 16—Monroe Walker, 24:31.72
