The Sabetha Bluejays traveled to Seneca for the Big East League cross country meet hosted by Nemaha Central on Thursday, Oct. 15. Under cloudy skies, brisk winds and temperatures in the mid-50s, the runners faced much cooler conditions than the team’s last meet in Sabetha where the temperatures were in the upper 80s.

“Our runners performed at the best level during the league meet,” said Head Cox Trenton Cox. “We had several personal and seasonal best times this week and showed we are peaking at the right time in the season. We look forward to a new course in Norton, Kan., for regionals and are looking for more PRs this week.”

Girls

Three Lady Jays earned Big East All-League honors — freshman Myra Stoller with a 14th-place finish, followed by sophomore Lucy Metzger, who placed 17th with a season best, and junior Sophie Leman finishing in 20th place, just making the cut to earn All-League recognition and also running a personal best.

Senior Trinity Meyer placed 30th with a season best run, freshman Ava Coughlin finished 51st, sophomore Sofia Gutknecht placed 55th and a season best with sophomore Zoë Coughlin right behind her in 56th.

The Sabetha girls finished sixth in the team standings out of eight teams participating. Hiawatha won the team title, followed by Riley County, Nemaha Central, Silver Lake, Royal Valley, Holton and Perry-Lecompton.

The girls advancing to regionals are Stoller, Metzger, Leman, Meyer, A. Coughlin, Gutknecht and Z. Coughlin. Senior Mary Wagner will serve as an alternate. Manager is sophomore Larae Rokey and sophomore harrier Bryn Sinning will assist the team due to injury.

Boys

Freshman Layton Rettele was the lone boy earning a Big East All-League medal at the meet, placing 11th. Sophomore Kurt Baumgartner placed 22nd with a personal best, just missing a medal by two placings. Senior Xavier Deters placed 30th with a season best run, freshman Silas Aberle placed 40th with a personal best and senior James Sallman placed 42nd with a season best, freshman Alden Deters placed 52nd, and senior Isaac Schmid closed out his season in 58th with a season best.

The boys’ team placed fifth overall, out of 10 teams qualifying. Riley County took first place, followed by Nemaha Central, Royal Valley, Silver Lake, Holton, Rossville, Hiawatha, Jefferson West and Perry-Lecompton.

The boys advancing to regionals are Rettele, Baumgartner, X. Deters, Sallman, Aberle, A. Deters and Grant Stapleton. Alternates are Schmid, senior Jayce Rebant and junior Kaeb Coughlin.

The Bluejays will travel to Norton on Saturday, Oct. 24, for regional competition.

Good luck, Bluejays!