By Jason Lawerence
Special to the Citizen
With the most decorated runner in school history, now running for William Jewell College the North Platte cross country team will have a new look at the top of its girls’ roster in 2018.
McKenna Fulton, a four-time state qualifier, who finished 73rd at the Class 2 State Cross Country Championships, and Bailee Romaker were the last remnants of the school’s first state-qualifying team, but now the mantle will fall to a trio of younger runners to improve on last season’s fourth place showing at the KCI Conference meet and fifth place finish in districts.
Junior Savannah Lingle, who broke through by qualifying for the sectional track meet in the 3,200-meter run last spring, and sophomore Maddie O’Neill, a state qualifier in track in the 400-meter dash and as part of the 4x400-meter relay team lead the returners.
Coach Brendan Cary, who is entering his seventh season at the helm, also expects an immediate impact from freshman Jenna Cassity.
“On the girls side, we have three strong girls and will look to add more numbers as the school year starts,” Cary said. “All three have run well in the preseason and will have the possibility of being our No. 1 runner on any day.”
Citizen file photo
North Platte’s Tyler Meadows approaches the final turn on the course at Platte Ridge Park during the Platte County Invitational last year in Platte City, Mo.
Seniors Tyler Meadows and Zach Lee, all-conference runners in 2017, will headline the boys squad after the departures of Caleb Crumley and Ben Heese to graduation.
“For the boys, we have a tremendous group of seniors, led by Tyler Meadows and Zach Lee, both conference medalists last year,” Cary said. “They were state qualifiers as freshmen and have missed out the last two years. They have shown amazing focus and leadership through the summer workouts and have challenged themselves to be prepared going into the season.”
Cary, who is assisted by Matt Keraus, said he also expects seniors Chase Bridger, Jayden Brooks, Joe Demarcus and Truman Byergo to challenge for varsity spots. Sophomores Danny Fleshman, Tyler Davis, Jakob Scroggins, Jace Stubbs and Reece Hinton give the Panthers added depth.
Freshmen Gabe Goodlet and Jacob Wright round out a roster that finished third in the conference and seventh at the Class 2 District 8 Meet.
With only two males and one female medalist at the conference race a season ago, Cary once again expects stiff competition for the top spots in the KCI Conference.
“There has been a strong youth movement in the conference over the last year,” he said. “The girls’ race will be led by returning state champions West Platte, and the Lawson girls are consistently strong. The boys’ race will be exciting, with the top four teams separated by only 11 points last year.”
The Panthers will drop to Class 1 this year, after being in Class 2 the past two years. North Platte joins a district with West Platte, along with schools from the Highway 275 Conference and Grand River Conference.
North Platte opens its season at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 28 with its home two-mile race.