Van Zant earns state cross-country medal

WAMEGO — Central Heights High School senior Ethan Van Zant closed his high school cross-country career with state medal.

Van Zant finished 12th Saturday in the 3A boys race in Wamego. Van Zant had a stellar finish to his season. He won the Pioneer League race and finished third at regionals to qualify as an individual for the second straight year.

The Wellsville boys finished 12th with 233 points.

“It was a great experience for this young team, though we would have liked to have finished a bit higher in the standings,” Wellsville coach Tim Savage said.

Wellsville qualified the boys for the second straight year, despite losing six runners from last year’s squad.

“We knew we would be in somewhat of a rebuilding mode,” Savage said. “We had to have some runners step up this season and hopefully that trend continues next fall.”

The boys will have nearly all of their runners eligible to return next year.

Sophomore Derek Moore led the Eagles in 40th. Freshman Cole Meyer was 54th and sophomore Jordan Thompson was 58th.

Savage said the next several years look promising.

West Franklin sophomore Taylor Slavens finished 51st in the 3A girls race. It was her second straight state appearance.

“She competed really well,” West Franklin coach Jerald Johnson said. “The level of competition was higher [than last year]. It is so competitive.”

The Anderson County boys were 12th in the 4A boys race. Evan Bennett and Dustin Bonzo paced the Bulldogs in 44th and 45th.

Central Heights boys

12, Van Zant, 17:41.

West Franklin girls

51, Slavens, 18:06.

Wellsville boys

40, Moore, 18:49; 54, C. Meyer, 19:09; 58, Thompson, 19:12; 90, T. Meyer, 20:24; 91, Silsby, 20:26; 104, Kunard, 21:29; 105, Smith, 22:33.

Anderson County girls

44, Bennett, 18:11; 45, Bonzo, 18:12; 80, White, 19:18; 92, Bogle, 19:43; 94, Moody, 19:44; 102, Johnston, 24:03; 103, Katzer, 24:03.