Cross Country Teams Win Regional Runner-Up

Congratulations go out to the boys' and girls' cross country teams for earning a berth in the state championship cross country meet in Lexington.  Both teams were 2nd place in the region!

Ryle aims for home-course advantage
by Adam Turer


Ryle High School’s cross country teams hope that home-course advantage plays a factor in the upcoming regional meet.

The boys and girls will attempt to secure a place in the state meet when Ryle hosts the regional meet Nov. 3.

“Last year, Grant County hosted the regional and won,” boys head coach Benny Deaton said. “Hopefully, our runners do the same thing.”

The boys are led by seniors Michael Edwards and Dustin Mitchell and junior Parker Kay. Sophomores Matthew Uyeda and Ryan Tagher have provided a nice complement to the upperclassmen.

“We’ve had a good, gradual improvement since the beginning of the season,” Deaton said. “Hopefully, we finish on top.”

Unlike the experienced boys’ team, the girls are led by a freshman. Jensen Bales ran well during her middle school years and has quickly become the varsity’s top runner in her first season. Kayla Robinson has emerged late in the season as the team’s No. 2 runner.


“The strength of our team is we try to run in a pack,” girls head coach Jim Wihebrink said. “We really work as a team more than relying on one individual.”

The home turf should give both the boys and girls a slight edge on Saturday.

“I think it’s an advantage to a certain extent,” said Wihebrink. “Our girls practice there every day and know that course better than anybody.”

The practice strategy has changed in preparation for the higher stakes of the postseason. The boys have been steadily improving, while the girls have enjoyed a depth that allowed them to race a different lineup in each invitational during the season.

“We even out our mileage and try to improve our speed work,” said Deaton of his late-season practice plans. “I think the competition changes drastically over the course of the season.”

The stakes will be higher this weekend than at any other point this season. With a trip to state on the line, the Raiders will try to run their best race of the season.

“Everyone knows that it’s do-or-die and if you don’t run your fastest, your season will be over,” said Deaton.