BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
LAKE BARTON — Great Bend freshman Decorah Schroeter (19:30.85) surprised herself with a third-place finish in her varsity debut at Thursdy's Lake Barton cross country invitational. Schroeter trailed Salina Central medalist Kaylie Shultz (17:47.86), who beat Wichita Carroll runner-up Gwen Sattler (19:07.92) by 79 seconds.
Schroeter enjoyed running in 60-degree weather with winds under 10 mph.
"I didn't expect to place third. It went really well," Schroeter said. "In the middle of the race, I felt tired, but I pushed myself. There was a girl from Carroll right there, and I told myself to go beat her. I ran better than I did during practice."
Schroeter was followed by fifth-place Bella Long (19:44.31) and freshman Sydney Stein (19:44.51), who competed side-by-side the entire 5-kilometer distance. Samantha Negaard (22:20.37) finished 57th and Makenzie Gwin (22:32.67) placed 67th.
Wichita Carroll (45) won the team title and Great Bend (125) finished runner-up.
"We've got a whole new team competing, but it went well," said Long, who improved last year's time by 18 seconds. "We'll do good things this year. I expected our freshmen to race well, and that's what they did. Race conditions were good, all you ask for as a runner. I was happy with my time and how I finished. I felt good throughout the race."
Great Bend cross country coach Lyles Lashley was pleased with the girls' debut.
"I was surprised. Our three freshmen ran outstanding," Lashley said. "Decorah finishing top three is outstanding because Salina Central's runner is really good and the two Bishop Carroll finished high in track last spring. Sydney Stein and Bella Long finishing top six is a great finish under 19:45."
Central Plains runner Taylin Davis, a state track qualifier, placed 18th (20:44.55) with a strong performance. Hoisington's 17th-place 3A state medalist Tianna Lutters (21:04.75) finished 24th and improved 43 seconds.
LAKE BARTON
GIRLS TEAM SCORES—1—Wichita Carroll 45; 2—Great Bend 125; 3—Maize 149; 4—Buhler 169; 5—Valley Center 172; 6—SE Saline 187; 7—Newton 191; 8—Salina Central 194; 9—Ness City 212; 10—Dodge City 230.
TOP 10 MEDALISTS—1—Kaylie Shultz, SC, 17:47.86; 2—Sattler, WC, 19:07.92; 3—Decorah Schroeter, GB, 19:30.85; 4—Thome, WC, 19:3.93; 5—Bella Long, GB, 19:44.31; 6—Sydney Stein, GB, 19:44.51; 7—Starkweather, Buhler, 19:58.42; 8—Treaster, Newton, 19:58.5; ; 9—Meyer, WC, 20:02.95; 10—Nora Thome, WC, 20:03.65.
GREAT BEND—57—Samantha Negaard, 22:20.37; 67—Makenzie Gwin, 22:32.67.
HOISINGTON—24—Tianna Lutters, 21:04.32; 80—Tristin Compton, 23:11.36.
CENTRAL PLAINS—18—Taylin Davis, 20:44.55
GREAT BEND JV—37—Alyssa Prendergast, 26:12.16; 38—Sydney James, 26:13.26.
HOISINGTON JV—58—Jayda Bailey, 31:26.98; 59—Ayla Brown, 31:47.47; 61—Baya Yeakley, 34:58.63.
CENTRAL PLAINS JV—43—Kaymi Zink, 26:55.52.
