By Doug Eaton
By virtue of capturing four of the top six spots, the Jenks girls cross country team defeated the Union Lady Redskins 26-30 in the third annual Cross Town Cross Country competition held last Thursday at Leake Park.
The Lady Trojans were able to grab second, third, fourth and sixth places on the way to victory.
Junior Amy McCarty kept pace with overall winner Sara Vaughn from Union but couldn’t quite close the gap and overtake the impressive Union runner.
Vaughn, who has won all three races she has entered so far this season, jumped out to a quick lead immediately at the start. McCarthy was able to remain consistently close throughout the two mile race, but Vaughn’s experience and stamina was simply too much to overcome on the hot and humid day.
McCarthy finished with a time of 13:04, only eight seconds behind Vaughn.
Jacquelynn Skocik finished a close third overall, just three seconds behind McCarthy. Lauren Wienecke was fourth in 13:26 and Sarah Stark came in sixth in 13:52 to complete the scoring.
Rachel Fiest, in 14:11 was 11th overall and sophomore Miranda Zoller was 12th in14:33.
“We competed very well. I am very pleased with our effort today,” Coach Maria Fernandez said.
“We knew it would be real close and it was. Amy McCarthy ran like a true champion today. Sara Stark ran about as tough as anyone and she responded well to the challenge,” Fernandez said.
Jenks runners, their overall finishing place and times are listed below:
2 Amy McCarthy 13:04; 3 Jacquelynn Skocik 13:07; 4 Lauren Wienecke 13:26; 6 Sarah Stark 13:52; 11 Rachel Feist 14:11; 12 Miranda Zoller 14:33; 13 Laura Maness 14:40; 14 Anna Rutherford 14:44; 15 Callie Colvard 14:49; 17 Kristen Kemper 14:54;19 Megan Buker 15:01; 20 Natalie Tims 15:04; 21 Alli Price 15:07; 25 Michelle Blazer 15:48;
27 Katelyn Berg 15:57; 32 Sarah Martin 16:18; 33 Rachel Cuaderes 16:22; 34 Taylor Saley 16:38; 35 Courtney Conwell 16:40; 39 Kristen Hansen 17:16;;40 Lee Davies 17:19; 42 Brooke Conwell 18:29; 45 Kendell Phillips 19:22; 46 Paige Downey 19:46;
48 Alli Richter 20:06; 49 Rachel Roubein 20:40; 50 Brennick Gaudet 21:34; 52 Vinikarn Phahurat 22:19; and 54 Amy Crowe 24:45.
The Lady Trojans’ next meet is Saturday in Joplin at the Southern Stampede at Missouri Southern State University. High schools girls will be running a 5K distance and are scheduled to start at 10:45 am