Wetmore runners have been pounding the pavement in practice to increase their endurance and their minds in one of the most mentally challenging sports to compete in, cross country. The Cardinals had another road trip last week when they competed in the Centralia Invitational meet on Saturday, Oct. 1. The field of competitors was stacked, and the Wetmore boys rose to the challenge with all three runners finishing in the top 20 of more than 10 schools and 71 male athletes.

The freshman duo of Kristopher Fulkerson and Gavin Fulkerson continue to be front runners and challenge the older, more experienced athletes in the race. K. Fulkerson finished in seventh place overall with a time of 19 minutes, 2.37 seconds for the course to show his youthful grit in a tough gallery of runners. G. Fulkerson was not too far behind his teammate when he breasted the tape in 12th place and the second finisher for the Cardinals with a time of 19 minutes, 37.65 seconds on the day.

Junior Brayden McQueen has been making strides as well and continues to challenge himself physically to chip away at his 3.1 mile personal best time as each course offers its own challenges.

The course’s top spot was taken by a Nemaha Central runner finishing the course in 16 minutes, 7.96 seconds with an Axtell harrier crossing the line in 17 minutes, 39.81 seconds to take second, and a Jefferson County North athlete finishing third with a time of 18 minutes, 2.05 seconds.

“I am very proud of the boys,” said Head Coach Seth Stiers. “They are improving from meet to meet and they are determined to do their best and to continue to get better.”

The Cardinals will have one more regular season meet when they travel to Sabetha on Thursday, Oct. 6, to participate in the Bluejay Invitational meet before they turn their attention to the Twin Valley League meet and ultimately Regionals in the pinnacle of their season.