Peterson, Stanton County girls win in Class 2A

VICTORIA, Kan. (Catch it Kansas) - As a regional champion in 2019, Stanton County’s Chesney Peterson was one of the favorites to win the Class 2A title last fall in Wamego. Peterson fell to 41st in that state race, and Ellinwood’s Erin Hammeke won the championship.

The duo went head to head again at regionals in 2020 with Peterson again coming out on top last week at Stanton County. This time the momentum carried forward. The sophomore Peterson won Saturday’s Class 2A State Cross Country race at Victoria’s Plum Creek Nature Trails by 14 seconds in 18:17.1. Her Lady Trojans cruised to a second-straight team championship.

“I just wanted to run for my team today and just run confident the whole time,” Peterson said. “Last year I let the race get ahead of me and I got a little overwhelmed. I just tried coming into today calm.”

Peterson led virtually from start to finish. Kansas City Christian senior Alysia Wagner ended up taking the silver in 18:31.7, and the senior Hammeke finished third for Ellinwood in 18:58.4.

“I had to get out with and she’s got a lot of speed,” Hammeke said. “I knew if I wasn’t able to get out with her my chances would be lower. There was a lot of hope going into it but unfortunately she was able to get out ahead of me quick.”

All five Stanton County team scorers placed in the top-31 overall for 48 points. Remington collected the silver with 83 points, and Oakley edged out Bishop Seabury by seven spots for the final team trophy with 108 points.

Three Lady Trojans grabbed state medals as top-20 finishers. Sophomore Suzanne Farnham ran eighth in 20:02.6, and senior Peyton Peterson placed 12th in 20:35.7. Freshman Madison Seyb finished 24th in 21:21.2, and senior Jania Don Juan picked up the final team points in 31st with a time of 21:48.3.

“It’s a lot of fun running as a team and not just as an individual,” Chesney Peterson said. “It’s fun to experience the glory of today with teammates and not just yourself. I appreciate the team win more than I think I will my own win today.”

Hoxie senior Emily Diercks finished fourth overall in 19:33.8, and West Elk junior Josie Ware rounded out the top-5 in 19:38.6. Ellis sophomore Maddie Russell crossed in virtually the same time for sixth. Jefferson County North’s Sydney Myers completed the top-10 with a time of 20:32.6.

Giefer wins first 2A title

The Giefers have been winning state medals in Wakeeney for years. Helen Giefer claimed some seven state championships on the track and cross country course for Trego Community. Saturday little brother Wyndom took his turn. He won his first title by eight seconds in 16:09.2. Hoxie senior Gabriel Friess picked up the silver in 16:17.3

Giefer was in title contention his sophomore year as a top-10 finisher but slipped to 43rd last fall. “I wasn’t having a great day last year,” he said. “I don’t if I was sick or if it was something else. I got seventh my sophomore year so it was disappointing last year.”

Saturday Giefer came out strong, overtaking the lead near the mile point. He maintained a healthy gap the remainder of the race.

“I always want to think someone is right behind me so I push myself harder,” he said. “I know Friess pretty well. He’s always been right behind me all season so he’s pushed me pretty well. People were telling me throughout the race how far back he was.”

Berean Academy scored 54 points for the team championship, followed by Stanton County with 62 points and McLouth with 84 points. Kansas City Christian scored 106 points for fourth. No other squad made it out with fewer than 170 points.

Warrior sophomore Andrew Harder paced Berean in fifth place with a time of 16:47.5. Senior Gavin Tucker rounded out the top-10 in 17:04.0, and junior Eli Nord ran 13th in 17:06.4. Senior Andrew Janzen placed 27th in 17:32.3, and senior Trey Topham picked up the final team points in 18:01.0 for 41st overall.

Stanton County sophomore Kamryn Golub paced the Trojans in third place with a time of 16:24.6. Ellis senior Sam Pyle ran eighth in 17:02.8, and Plainville senior Chayse McCullough placed ninth in 17:03.1 as the lone Cardinal in the race.

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