By DANTON MCDIFFETT
Assistant Cross Country Coach
HAYS -- A hazy sky brought cool temperatures and fast times to the Hays High Invitational Cross Country meet on Thursday.
Mustang junior William Griffith continued his stellar season by using a strong kick to blow past his nearest rival and take first place in the varsity meet. Griffith’s time of 16:47 was four seconds faster than the second place runner. The two dueled back and forth throughout the race, but Griffith proved the stronger runner in the home stretch.
Isaac French also placed in the top ten, earning eighth place in a time of 17:44. Zack Tibbits ran 19:06 to place 23rd, followed by Cooper Affholder in 33rd (20:21), Alex Shea in 36th (22:23) and Ryan Sheahon in 38th (22:37). The Mustangs finished fifth as a team with 101 points.
Cora White’s time of 22:47 placed her in 22nd in a fast girls varsity competition. Araceli Davila ran 23:02 to place 24th as the Mustangs finished fifth as a team with 139 points. Elizabeth Young, improving with every race, was close behind in 28th with a time of 23:45, Elle Denning finished in 24:19 to place 33rd, and Brooke Shea came in 39th, running 28:14.
Neither junior varsity team had enough runners to compete in the team standings. For the boys, Shawn Pyeatt was the leading Mustang, finishing 66th with a time of 26:25. Nick Carano came in at 27:13 to place 70th.
Emily Strommen and Taylor Helton led the girls junior varsity squad, finishing in 43rd and 44th place, respectively. Strommen tallied a time of 28:43; Helton’s time was 28:54. Angel Mendenhall crossed at 32:05 for 52nd. Amelia Coykendall and Alison Coykendall held off her sister Alison to take 56th in a time of 35:12. Alison’s 35:14 placed her 57th.
The Mustangs will compete at McPherson on Sept. 24.