INDEPENDENCE — Iola High’s Mustangs ran away with the team title in their final regular season meet Thursday.
With four runners in the top six, Iola easily bested all comers in winning the meet, led by — who else? — but senior standout Jack Adams.
Adams traversed the 5K course at Sycamore Valley Golf Course in a blistering 17 minutes, 22 seconds.
“Jack took a commanding lead in the first quarter-mile and no one closed in on him,” Iola head coach Marv Smith said. “The course had some nice hills, and our team adapted very well.”
There was one drawback. Pittsburg was without its top runner, whom Smith was eager to see race against Adams.
Not that it would have mattered much in the team standings. Iola scored 28 points, with Pittsburg next with 71.
Following Adams were Jesse Taylor in fourth at 18:20, Kaster Trabuc in fifth at 18:39 and Rley Jay sixth at 18:43. Nathan Louk pulled in 12th at 19:18, Drake DeLaTorre 16th at 19:42 and Japheth Rutah 17th at 19:52.
“Jesse is becoming very consistent with four good races in a row,” Smith said. “This was Kasper’s best race of the season, and his fast 600 was really moving around runners. Riley had a good race, but just could not hold off the two sophomores.”
Smith was impressed his entire varsity squad eclipsed the 20-minute mark.
On the girls side, Iola was without its top runner, Josie Plumlee. “Hopefully, just allergies,” Smith said.
Nevertheless, the Fillies Elanie Sturgeon shined by taking fourth at 23:59. Averie Sharon finished 13th at 25:36, Audrey Coltrane 19th at 28:43 and Kaylin Klubek 23rd at 33:46.
“Elanie had a good race from start to finish,” Smith said. “She was surrounded by two Pittsburg runners and two other frontrunners the entire distance, and held them off the final quarter mile.”
Sharon and Coltrane both have dealt with ankle issues, Smith said.
ELI Adams led the way for Iola’s junior varsity boys, winning the JV race in 21:18. Colin Long was sixth at 23:08, followed by Eli Smith at 33:21 in 13th.
“Eli led by a large margin for the entire race,” Smith said. “He also is having problems with his allergies. We all need a restful weekend.”
Thursday’s meet was smaller than expected, with several schools holding back runners due to concerns over COVID-19. Being placed under quarantine now would mean potentially missing, league, regional and state meets, Smith noted.
