Cody McMillen wins Wamego Invitational
First victory
highlights
'great' meet
Hillsboro High School junior Cody McMillen took the lead Saturday at the midway point Saturday and held off all challengers to earn his first victory in the varsity cross country race at the Wamego Invitational.
Trojan senior Sean Leihy was fourth, and, as a team, the boys placed third overall.
The Trojans will take this momentum Tuesday to SE of Saline.
"The kids did a great job again this week and there were a number of highlights," said coach Stuart Holmes. "But THE highlight was Cody McMillen."
McMillen, who completed the 5,000-meter course in 17:53, ran with the leaders from the early stages of the race, which was run in wet conditions, Holmes said.
"Once he took the lead in the second half of the race, he did a good job of responding when challenged by another runner going up a hill in the last half mile," Holmes said. "He competed with a lot of heart and earned the victory."
Leihy's fourth-place finish, in 18:36.9, was his second strong performance in as many weeks, Holmes said.
"Sean ran an excellent race and showed up ready to run," he said.
Holmes added that placing third out of 17 full teams is "excellent, considering how many new varsity runners we have. Nicholas (Mueller) and Johnny (Christian) especially ran inspired races and medaled, while Matthew (Klenda) and Nathan (Vogel) almost medaled."
For the girls, team newcomers Jessica Elliott and Heidi Schroeder placed 31st and 32nd respectively in their first varsity races. Remarkably, the duo ran their first cross country races ever in a junior varsity race two weeks ago.
Since this was the first time any Hillsboro girl had run the new 4-kilometer distance, Elliott's time of 18:34 also is the school record. Schroeder's time was 18:35.
1,2,3-A Boys 5,000 Meter Run
Team scores: 1. Wichita Trinity Academy, 67, 2. Norton, 68, 3. Hillsboro 101, 4. Riley County 151, 5. Sabetha, 151, 6. Christ Prep. Academy, 170, 7. Jefferson County, 238, 8. Rock Creek, 260, 9. Wakeeney-Trego, 267, 10. Northern Heights, 274.
Hillsboro results: 1. Cody McMillen, 17:53, 4. Sean Leihy, 18:36, 20. Nicholas Mueller, 19:25, 35. Johnny Christian, 20:01, 41. Matthew Klenda, 20:16, 42. Nathan Vogel, 20:21, 68. David Loewen, 21:31.
1,2,3-A Girls 4-Kilometer Run
Team scores: Riley County, 42, 2. Wabaunsee, 83, 3. Norton, 106, 9. Hillsboro, 186.
Hillsboro results: 31. Jessica Elliott, 18:34, 32. Heidi Schroeder, 18:35, 43. Brittany McGinnis, 18:56, 62. Elissa Richert, 19:55, 70. Hannah Marsh, 20:12.
