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Nevada High, middle school teams dazzle at home XC meet
Hosting a 16-school cross country meet at rain-soaked Frank E. Peters Municipal Golf Course on Friday, the Nevada High and middle school boys and girls cross country teams put on a show.
While the Nevada High varsity girls didn't field enough competitors to compete as a team, their trio of student-athletes each placed in the top 25, highlighted by Avery Morris' seventh-place showing. The NHS boys' varsity squad, meanwhile, placed 10th at the event.
Further accentuating the top-flight performances, Nevada Middle School's Aiden Ryan captured a first-place finish in the boys' 3,200-meter run, clocking a sub 13-minute time. Ryan's electric performance, combined with three other top 10 finishes, led the Tiger boys to a first-place team victory. Paced by Averi Dawn's runner-up finish, the Nevada girls' middle school team was also in top form, placing third overall.
"All-in-all it was a good day for us, we were very pleased with the results," said Ryan Watts, the head coach of both the Nevada High and middle school teams. In addition to Morris' top 10 finish in the varsity girls' 5-kilometer (5K) run, Allie Rains placed 11th — and Ashley Mather, 24th.
"Only fielding three runners isn't where we would like to be right now," began Watts. "We would definitely like to be fielding a full team, but that's not where we are at this moment."
Watts said he's been thoroughly impressed with his trio of Lady Tiger runners through two meets this season.
"We can feel really great about the three girls we do have running," he said. "Avery and Allie, our dynamic sophomore duo, continue to post fast times. Both at meets, and in practice, ahead of where they were this time last season. They both ran well on Friday, and looked strong on the wet, sloppy course."
Watts said Mather, a junior, as well as fellow boys' upperclassmen, varsity runner Mokey Dawn, have both been instrumental in their leadership roles.
"Ashley has really embraced the leadership role," Watts said. "She has really taken that lead-by-example attitude, and put a voice to it this season — helping to guide the young girls on the team, and show them what being a Nevada Tiger runner is all about. And as a coach, I couldn't ask for a better example to show the next generation how it's done."
Said Watts of Mokey Dawn, who posted a Top 50 finish: "He is starting to take the reins in that regard, really helping the young high schoolers, and even the middles schoolers learn the team traditions and expectations. That kind of leadership is something that is so helpful to a young team. The high school boys raced well, didn't let the rain and poor course conditions bother them — and got out and ran strong as they continue to grow as runners."
Watts said he couldn't be more pleased with his middle school boys squad's gold medal team performance. Nevada had four eighth-graders finish in the top seven.
"That is a special accomplishment at any meet," he said. "So those boys should feel very proud of that achievement. Anthony Pizano, Shaityn Williams, and our two Aidens (Ryan and Watts), ran really well and front-loaded the race for us. With the rest of the middle school boys running very strong, if this group can stay together, they are going to be very special once they get to the varsity level."
Watts discussed the middle school girls' overall performance.
"We have a lot of first-time runners," he said. "But nonetheless, they got out and raced hard, and didn't let nerves and anxiety bother them. Once the gun fired, both our returning runners, and our newbies got after it, and ran very strong."
Watts added that he was extremely impressed by Averi Dawn's runner-up performance in rugged elements, as well as Mary Kate Russell's 12th-place medal showing. "It really helped the girls' team lock up the third-place team position."
Summed up Watts of the meet: "It was a wet, and slick course, but the kids ran really well. And while it was on the smaller size of the meets we typically go to, I was pleasantly surprised with how strong the competition was, and the quality, and variety of teams in attendance.
"It was an interesting mix of schools, from lots of different areas, and teams we don't get to race all that often. So, it was good for our athletes to compete against a new mix of runners. It was a great day for our runners. From top-top-bottom, they all ran well, continued to improve, and really got this coach excited about the future of the program — with so many young and talented runners growing within the program."
Watts said his varsity teams aren't quite at full strength.
"We're still are missing a couple of key runners at the varsity level due to injury, and other issues — but hope to have them back soon," he explained. "On the varsity boys' side, we are still improving as a very young team. But every event, our underclassmen learn more-and-more about how to race at 5,000 meters."
NHS boys' 5K results
(10th-place of 16 teams)
• Jaden Theis, 45th-place 20:38; Mokey Dawn, 50th, 21:01; Braylin Brooks, 61st, 21:45; Ethan McGinnis, 64th, 21:48; Sean Jones, 94th, 23:53; Lane Jones, 99th, 24:36; Mike Treese 108th place 27:32; Cody Weeks, 110th place, 28:40.
• Overall winning team: Truman High School.
• Overall individual winner: Daelen Ackley, El Dorado Springs.
NHS Girls' 5K results
(No team result)
• Avery Morris, seventh-place, medalist, 22:38; Allie Rains 11th, 23:32; Ashley Mather, 24th, 25:00.
• Overall winning team: El Dorado Springs.
• Overall individual winner: Justine Barb, Skyline High School.
NMS boys' 3,200 meter results
(First-place team score)
• Aiden Ryan, first-place gold medalist, 12:59, Shaityn Williams, fourth-place, medalist, 13:30; Aiden Watts, fifth-place, place, medalist, 13:30; Anthony Pizano, seventh-place, medalist, 13:59; Jake Keading, 23rd, 6:40; Matt Eaton, 24th, 16:43.
• Overall winning team: Nevada Middle School
• Overall individual winner: Aiden Ryan, Nevada Middle School
NMS girls' 3,200 meter results
(Third-place team finish2)
• Averi Dawn, second-place, silver medalist, 15:16; Mary-Kate Russell, 12th, 16:40; Courtney Weeks, 22nd, 18:29; Hayley Mather, 25th, 19:20; Morgan Austin, 32nd, 23:06.
• Overall winning team: Skyline Middle School.
• Overall individual winner: Katlyn Chism, Stockton Middle School.
Teams in attendance
Nevada, Skyline, Wheaton, Butler, El Dorado Springs, El Dorado Christian, Thomas Jefferson, Kansas City East Christian Academy, Independence, Truman, Sheldon, Willard, Carthage, Sherwood, Stockton, Montrose.
Editor's note: As of press time Monday night, results for Cottey College were unavailable.