By William for www.mcpherson-county-ks.com

            INMAN – Not having enough runners to sport a full team, the Inman cross country program will count on individual runners for success in 2022.

            Jay Parsons enters his ninth season as the head coach for the Teuton cross country program and will face the challenge of counting on individual runners with only seven athletes out for 2022.

            Only Lauren Aden graduated from the Teuton program last season and she now runs cross country and track for Hutchinson Community College after finishing 28th at the 2021 state meet.

            “We do not have enough runners to make either a girls or boys team,” explained Coach Parsons during his pre-season reflections. “Each of our runners will have to make their own personal goals which to begin with is to finish every race and be competitive while doing so. Of course, the ultimate goal is to have a few of them make it to the state meet.”

            Riley Stallings, a junior, is the lone returnee for the Teuton boys while junior Lacie Baxter is the only Lady Teuton running with any varsity or high school experience.

            When discussing his lone returnees, coach Parsons noted, “Riley (Stallings) has run at this level for two seasons and has a better understanding of how to run and be competitive. Barring any injuries and him staying with it, I think Riley could have a very good season. Now Lacie (Baxter) has become a better and more consistent runner over the past two seasons. I look for her to keep improving in both areas as the season goes along.”

            Besides the two juniors, the Teutons will have five freshman running as well with four of them (Riley Roots, Tyler Martisko, Addison Wedel, and Kinsley Bigler) all having run cross country in junior high.

            Coach Parsons concluded his pre-season reflections by adding, “With our five freshman, it will be interesting and exciting to see how they move up in distance and develop as the season progresses.”

            The Teuton cross country team will begin their 2022 season on Thursday, September 1 with a meet at Tescott.

TEUTON CROSS COUNTRY 2022 SCHEDULE:

  • Thursday, September 1 at Tescott
  • Thursday, September 8 at Hesston
  • Thursday, September 15 at Bennington
  • Thursday, September 22 at Marion
  • Thursday, September 29 at Berea Academy (at Harvey County East Lake)
  • Thursday, October 6 at Sterling
  • Thursday, October 13 at Heart of America League meet hosted by Hutchinson Trinity
  • Saturday, October 22 at Regionals
  • Saturday, October 29 at State Meet held in Wamego

2022 TEUTON ROSTER:

  • Riley Stallings – junior
  • Lacie Baxter – junior
  • Riley Roots – freshman
  • Tyler Martisko – freshman
  • Kinsley Bigler – freshman
  • Addison Wedel – freshman
  • Aofie Turcotte – freshman

(William is a free-lance writer covering McPherson County Activities – he can be reached at crossdovewriter@gmail.com)