Allen finishes fifth in varsity

The season got off to a good start for the Hillsboro High School cross-country team Saturday as they competed in the JK Gold Classic at the Raft Golf Course in Augusta.

With only Joel Allen running in the varsity race, Hillsboro was unable to score as a team, leaving the junior varsity team to pick up the points.

Allen’s fifth-place personal-best time of 16 minutes, 48 seconds against runners from Class 5A and 6A schools was one of many highlights on the day, as well as a personal record.

“Everyone ran really well, it was a terrific start to the season,” an ecstatic Trojan coach Stuart Holmes said. “Even though it was only the first meet, still, three of the four top guys ran their best times ever, setting a new personal record.

“Joel Allen’s fifth-place finish in the varsity race against all the 5A and 6A runners was impressive as he lowered his PR by over 10 seconds for an outstanding first meet.”

Of the seven JV teams, Hillsboro’s second-place total of 74 points was only 30 less than Blue Valley West’s winning score.

Pacing the boys was Bret Mueller, who ran an 18:07 for third in the 5-kilometer race.

Hot on Mueller’s heels was sophomore Josh Richert, who has shown some huge strides in practice to earn high praise from Holmes.

Richert’s fourth-place time of 18:09 was nearly a full minute better than his previous mark.

With the top 10 runners earning a medal, Justin King just missed, coming in 14 seconds behind Blue Valley West’s Jared Fuller in 11th.

Despite coming up short of a medal, King’s time of 18:59 was a new best.

The trio of Avery Franz, Daniel Gray, and Clay Etheridge all showed promise, gaining confidence and experience.

Franz was 23rd out of 86 finishers at 20:00, while Gray (22:13) and Etheridge (22:26) finished 60th and 64th, respectively.

In girls competition, only Samantha Enns and Erin Wiebe were able to run for the short-handed Lady Trojans in the 2.5-mile junior varsity race.

Enns finished 19th out of 43 runners with a time of 19:22 followed by Wiebe at 33rd in 21:16.

Sickness two days earlier sidelined Breanna Blacketter and Michaela Hinnerman’s severe shin splints kept her out.

BOYS VARSITY RESULTS

5. Allen, 16:48.

JUNIOR VARSITY BOYS

3. Mueller, 18:07. 4. Richert, 18:09. 11. King, 18:59. 23. Franz, 20:00. 60. Gray, 22:13. 64. Etheridge, 22:26.

JV GIRLS

19. Enns, 19:22. 33. Wiebe, 21:16.