Girls cross country gets ranking votes in 4A

Maddie+Bryant+runs+in+the+AV-CTL+race+last+year.+Bryant+is+one+of+the+key+returning+runners+for+the+girls+program%2C+which+received+ranking+votes+in+4A.

Maddie Bryant runs in the AV-CTL race last year. Bryant is one of the key returning runners for the girls program, which received ranking votes in 4A.

Six cross country coaches throughout the Kansas 4A schools voted and put the Rocket girls cross country team in the top seven to go to state.

“In terms of expectation I think the girls team could go a long way,” said coach Brandon Barger. “They have a good chance to win league and they have a good chance to go to state as a team but things have to fall in place for them but I think they have that potential.”

The last time the girls were ranked was 2014 and in that same year they went to state as a team.

“It’s more of a tradition seeing the rankings is kind of exciting for them wanting to work harder to get to that state level.” Barger said. “The thing about the girls is we have two returning out of the nine last years so that doesn’t bring a lot of experience but we are looking forward to some new ones coming in.”

Maddie Bryant and Josee Vogt are the only returning girls runners.

“I’m excited about seeing Maddie Bryant and Josee Vogt and Korryn Hackney who decided to run this year and there’s good ones Aubrie Thomison, Jenna McCulloch and Anayka Besco that I think will contribute right from the get go,” said Barger

But what about the boys team this year?

“The boys team could have some true potential going through mile times and looking through workouts and things like that,” Barger said. “I think our guys could win league as well but when you have Mulvane and Andale that look good we will have to compete with them.”

There are nine junior boys on team three seniors and two sophomores, seven of which have had previous years running with Rocket cross country.

“For the guys a lot of our sophomores, who are now juniors, who have experience that’s kind of of needed because running is a sport you have to get accustomed too and we have a lot of juniors out this year which is good we have no freshmen boys which is discouraging,” said Barger.

The team is being ran a bit different than previous years

“Coach Page has been working with the ones who haven’t been running so far bringing them up gradually and the ones that have been running are working with me.” Barger said. “We are concentrating on interval work, temp runs, long runs so doing a little more race specific than we are getting the new ones endurance built up. Going through mile times and looking through workouts and things like that boys and girls expectations together are a lot more higher than last year.”