TOP 3 MOMENTS OF THE MEET
After the lightning ended its show, the meet really began to sizzle and pop. Ryan Lehmuth from Jefferson Academy tore the meet open by opening with a 4:55 first mile, effectively stretching out the field and challenging only the most serious of contenders to go with him and make a race of it. By mile two, the individual title was left to Lehmuth, Andrew King from Platte Valley, and JA teammate Christian Van Cleave to decide. Van Cleave, no doubt remembering finishing neck and neck with King at Regionals last fall, closed a ten second gap on Lehmuth and King and seemed to accelerate every step coming up the final half mile or so of hill. Van Cleave took the meet title, the first of his career, at 17:01. King followed in second at 17:15, Lehmuth held on for 17:17 and 3rd place.
Coming in to the meet, Horizon looked as tough as they always do, but they were not necessarily favored to win. Lots of teams have a single great athlete or two. A few more have three. Horizon, led by the 5-6 finish of Evan Miller and Gavin Glaza, had all their scoring runners in before 25th place to take the meet title 70 to 77 over a tough Holy Family boys squad. SkyView Academy seems to have shaken off some of the rust with a tough 81 points in third.
Natalie Platil from Horizon was never seriously challenged for her spot at the front. Cassie Unruh and Payton Grove from Skyview Academy seemed like they might give it a go a mile in to the race, but Platil was too much to handle for anyone. Platil strode in to the stadium by herself and took the meet title by 32 seconds over Unruh. Holy Family, for their part, appeared to have no holes in their scoring family whatsoever. Isabelle Hren led the five-woman tally going 5-6-8-10-11 for 40 points and an easy meet title over the 64 points of Horizon.