TEUTON HARRIERS WILL RUN FOR 2023 SUCCESSES

By Staff

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INMAN – With one individual qualifying for last season’s state meet, the Inman cross country program will look to run for individual successes for the upcoming 2023 season.

Jay Parsons begins his ninth season as head coach of the Teuton cross country program knowing that much will depend on individual performances, especially for the Teuton boys as he has just three runners for the 2023 season.

Tyler Martisko enters his sophomore season as the lead runner for the Teutons after qualifying for the Class 2A state meet in 2022 as just a freshman. The other two runners for the Teuton boys will be senior Riley Stallings and sophomore Riley Roots.

Talking about Martisko, coach Parsons said, “Tyler (Martisko) broke 19-minutes for his average time last season, and I look for him to lower that again. He qualified for the state met and I have no doubt that he has already made it his goal to make a return trip in 2023.”

“(Riley) Stallings has lowered his season average time in each of his first three seasons,” noted coach Parsons. “He has a lot of experience due to the fact he has run for three seasons and we will look for him to build on that and lower his season average time once again in 2023.”

Parsons also made a point of saying that Riley Roots, like Tyler, learned that their freshman season is a learning lesson in terms of what does it take to run the race, how do they go about doing it, and how to adjust with each of the courses they run one being different. It was also spoken that Roots brought his average time to the 20-minute mark with the goal of going below that in the upcoming season.

Senior Lacie Baxter heads up a still young Lady Teuton cross country group as Addison Wedel, Kinsley Bigler, and Aofie Turcotte all ran as just freshman in 2022. They will be joined by newcomer Sophia Belknap this fall.

Talking about the Lady Teuton harriers, coach Parsons explained, “There are enough to compete as a team in 2023, though individual performances will still be important but the fact that they will compete as a team I think helps in keeping them motivated and in a race. Of course, the key to it all is they all have to stay healthy and injury free.”

Lacie Baxter enters her senior season with a lot of experience while lowering her average time in each of the three previous seasons.

“I look forward to seeing Lacie continue her string and lower it even more in 2023,” added coach Parsons.

Addison Wedel learned what it was like to run a longer distance at the high school level in her freshman season where she ended it by placing in the top-twenty at the state regionals. Parsons pointed out that Addison should have a good season now that she has a better understanding of the race at a high school level.

The other two returning Lady Teutons, Kinsley Bigler and Aofie Turcotte spent much of their 2022 season being injured.

When discussing Bigler and Turcotte, coach Parsons simply stated, “Hopefully this season will be better and both will be able to compete.”

Even though Sophia Belknap is a sophomore, as a newcomer she will be like a freshman learning what cross country is all about though Parsons is looking forward to seeing what she can do and how her performances will contribute to the other four runners as a team.

Coach Parsons concluded his preseason reflections by saying, “I am looking forward to this season simply because this is a good group of runners. There are some individuals who I think could become very competitive in many races and ither make their first trip to the state meet or as in Tyler’s case, a return trip.”

The Teuton harriers will open the season on Thursday, August 31 at the Tescott Invitational.

INMAN TEUTON CROSS COUNTRY 2023 SCHEDULE:

Thursday, August 31 = at Tescott Invitational

Thursday, September 7 = at Hesston Invitational

Thursday, September 14 = Host Bennington

Thursday, September 21 = Host Marion

Thursday, September 28 = at Berean Academy Invitational (held at Harvey County East Lake)

Thursday, October 5 = at Sterling Invitational (held at Sterling Country Club)

Thursday, October 12 = at Heart of America League Meet

Saturday, October 21 = at State Regionals

Saturday, October 28 = at State Class 2A Meet in Wamego

(The Staff covering McPherson County Activities can be reached by email at macks.people.places@gmail.com)