Contributing writer
The Bluebird cross-country teams had this week off, which allows them to prepare for the Regional 1A meet in east Wichita at the Cessna Activity Center.
Seven team members are allowed to run with the top four finishers scoring points for the team. The other three competitors will be used to break ties if needed.
Coach Birdsell has five male runners that have been under 21 minutes. Heath Goertzen, Nathan Czarnowsky, Stephan Goertzen, Grant Flaming and Ben Wiens have been making improvements on last year’s times. Jake Herrel and Dan Smucker are looking to add to the Bluebird team as the season nears the end.
The top three of the 12 teams at regionals get to run as a team at the State meet.
“There will be about six teams, including us, that will be battling for the top three team positions,” said Coach Birdsell. “If we run how we are capable of running, good things could happen.”
Brittny Czarnowsky has been the only girl running for the Bluebirds this season. She will be looking to repeat as a state competitor and Coach Birdsell commented that she will need to finish in the top ten at Regionals in order to be sure of a spot in the State meet on October 29 at Wamego.
The girls will race at 2:00 pm and the boys at 2:30 this Saturday in Wichita.