EICKBUSH, ACHILLES TOP RETURNEES

By William

MCPHERSON – The 2020 season for the McPherson High School cross country team will feature a new coach and new expectations.

Entering the season as the new high school cross country head coach, Nikolous Rempe does bring head coaching experience with him after serving for three seasons as the head coach of the McPherson Middle School harriers. This means that several of the current Bullpup harriers will already be familiar with Rempe’s style and expectations.

In 2019, only one Bullpup runner qualified for state and that was Courtney Eickbush and she is back for her senior season along with junior Evie Elder to lead the Lady Bullpup runners.

Coach Rempe is pleased with having seven Lady Bullpups out this fall as it will give them the opportunity to have enough runners (five are needed) to compete in the team standings of each meet.

On the boys side, 12 runners are practicing with senior Cody Achilles leading the team along with four sophomores Tito Mendez, Brock Burgess, Skylar Lockard, and Roman Mai, all of whom saw varsity time as freshman a year ago.

Among several newcomers that Coach Rempe say are worth watching will be Keanna Sullivan and Renae Hendricks.

“Both the boys’ and girls’ squads return several runners from last year’s teams including Courtney (Eickbush) who qualified for the state meet,” noted Coach Rempe. “We also have a few incoming freshmen who will score varsity points for us.”

Concluding his pre-season reflections, Coach Rempe added, “While we have 19 runners out, the numbers are still low, but we’ve had good showing at summer running during June and July. I’m excited to see how the mileage base the runners have built will pay off this season as we strive to qualify several runners for State.”

The Bullpup harriers will get the 2020 season started on Thursday, September 3rd at the Lake Barton Invitational.

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