In what is probably their last home meet of their high school career, seniors Zayne Gabern and Kendyl Renn made it count by running their fastest times on their home course. 

        Renn finished third with a time of 23:45, twenty seconds better than last season and forty seconds faster than her sophomore year. She is a three-year cross country runner, having played volleyball her freshman year.

        “It’s not my career best, but at least it was a new course best in my last home meet,” Renn said. 

        Aside from Regionals last season, the senior has finished in the top 10 of her races for the past two years. She also has the second fastest 5K time in the school’s history.

        “Kendyl has definitely left her mark on the Lancer athletics program. With her consistent top 10 finishes, how her times improve as the season goes on because she puts in the work. She’s a great leader and a wonderful young lady to have on the team,” Coach Julie Jones said. 

        Following Renn’s example, junior Jackie Robinson ran a course personal best, finishing 10th in 25:15. Another junior, Journee Rimmer, finished 16th in a time of 16:31. Chloe Guymon, a senior racing in her first 5k of the season, finished 26th in a time of 29:13.

        The boys team were lead by Southeast Invite Champion Zayne Gabern. Also running a course best, the senior was focused going into the race where he has been runner-up both his sophomore and junior seasons.

       “I was thinking about it being my last home meet, but I don’t think it affected the outcome. Going into the race, I knew what I wanted out of it – the only thing anyone wants, which is to win,” Gabern said. 

        The win came as no surprise to Coach Jones.

        “Zayne is focused on having his best season yet. I think running at MSSU really helped him break through to a new level. We’ve talked about where he can be in races, and with this win under his belt, I can’t wait to see how he finished the last month of the season.”

        He finished 26 seconds ahead of second place and helped his team to a second place finish.

        Tucker Sutton finished third in a time of 18:40, forty seconds faster than his freshman season. The other two medalists for the team included Hudson Locke in 7th at 19:28 and Chris Archey in 12th at 20:19. Sophomore Kayden Utley was the Lancers’ fifth runner in only the second 5K of his career. He finished 30th in 23:01. Henry Burns ran a course best in 23:39, almost three minutes faster. 

        “I was definitely most happy with improving my time. I still feel like I have a ways to go to get back to where I should be, but this definitely felt encouraging,” Burns said.

        Michael Smith finished 41st in 24:40 in the final home meet of his career.

        “Cross country has been a way to push myself over the years. It has also helped me get out of my comfort zone and be more social,” the senior said.

        Finishing only nine points behind Pittsburg High School in the boys team race, Jones was happy with how the runners performed.

        “I could gush about all of these runners and managers for hours, but it all boils down to this – they show up, and they do the work. Along the way, they each bring a little something different to make it a fun journey that I’m honored to be a part of.”

📸 by Julie Jones