Park Hill star runner Natalie Gerdes has made it to state each of the last three years.
Natalie Gerdes’ prolific running career is coming to a close with one last cross-country season at Park Hill with a senior heavy lineup.
Gerdes has made it to the Class 5 State Meet each year with a sub-20-minute finish each time, being an all-state runner in 2022 and 2021. She is one of four Park Hill seniors on varsity, along with Jordan Umstattd, Ava Sullivan and Edie Fink.
“Coming off a historic year in which Park Hill had both a boys’ and girls’ qualifier to state for the first time in seven years, we’re hopeful that the strength and depth of our girls’ senior class will show dividends in the fall,” Park Hill girls’ cross-country coach Michael Sweney said. “Along with a deep roster of experienced varsity runners, our younger “up and comers” have definitely shown the potential to give us a good push through racing season.”
Sophomores Kate Hance and Sidney Hendrix were on varsity last year, along with junior Reagan Kastner, all of which are coming back. The Lady Trojans have some promising freshmen, including Alice Keefe and Stella Grothaus, while sophomore Annie Chambers was a district alternate last year and has the potential to crack the varsity roster this fall.
“Gerdes is healthy and continues to run strong, with Umstattd, Sullivan, Hendrix, Fink and Kastner continuing to push our competitive level. All our runners have shown great consistency and work ethic through the spring and summer, and we are hoping that all remain healthy and have a strong showing in our 2023 season,” Sweney said.
The Park Hill boys will only have one returning state qualifier, junior Jake Johnston. The Trojans have a talented junior class in addition to Johnston with John Mattivi, Hudson Huff and Nathan Chen.
“For the past four seasons the boys have had the same core group of four or five runners on varsity leading the team,” Park Hill boys’ cross-country coach Nicholas Gardner said. “With that group graduated, it’s a big turnover for the team and it will be exciting to see those previous younger guys step up now that the steady core has gone.”
Chen and Johnston were in the lineup a year ago and will have freshmen Colton Hardy and Noah Jackman bring youth and talent to the group. Senior Tristan Jennings is also competing for a spot, currently sitting as the number four runner for the Trojans ahead of the season.
“The team has taken a step forward over last year. Last year we got one individual to state so this year we have a good chance to get more. We only have two members of the varsity returning so it will be a big step up for those guys going from JV to varsity races,” Gardner said.