Lynnville-Sully Hawks Face Challenges at Pleasantville Invitational
UPDATE: The Lynnville-Sully girls cross country team faced a challenging day at the Pleasantville Invitational on Monday, competing with only four runners. This limitation is expected to impact their ranking in the upcoming Class 1A standings, as they missed the chance to race against three other ranked teams.
Despite the setback, head coach Darin Arkema remains optimistic. Notably, three of the Hawks placed in the top 14, with Emma Parkinson leading the way in fourth place, finishing the 5K race in 20 minutes, 51.78 seconds. The event was held under sweltering conditions, prompting race officials to delay start times to ensure athlete safety.
The meet was dominated by Grand View Christian, who clinched the championship with 56 points. Interstate 35 closely followed with 58 points, while Pleasantville (90), Martensdale-St. Marys (95), and Wayne Community (107) rounded out the top five teams. Colfax-Mingo managed to secure sixth place in the eight-team field with a total of 145 points, narrowly edging out Montezuma (147).
The Hawks were notably missing two key runners, Mandeesa Vos and Isabelle Vos. Mandeesa is dealing with an injury, while Isabelle had a conflicting volleyball event. Coach Arkema emphasized the importance of focusing on individual performance, stating, “As I told all of them before the race, I don’t care about that and the focus should be for all of them to go have the best races they can.”
Parkinson’s performance was a highlight, finishing behind only the top runners from Martensdale-St. Marys and Grand View Christian. “At the end of the night, I wanted them to look at the results with the belief that with Mandeesa and Isabelle, we could have placed very high or won the meet,” Arkema added, showcasing his pride in his team’s resilience.
Other notable performances for the Hawks included Breah Lowry in 12th with a time of 21:51.78, and Peyton Sharp finishing in 14th at 22:06.14. Coach Arkema praised Sharp for her determination, saying, “She was still able to battle through for a strong race.”
For Colfax-Mingo, standout Ashlynn Hosbond led the team in 15th with a time of 22:09.55. The Tigerhawks, while missing some runners, demonstrated their competitive spirit and depth in the lineup.
As both teams look ahead, the impact of this meet on rankings will be closely watched, with the updated standings expected next week. The challenges faced today may serve as motivation for future competitions. Fans and supporters are eager to see how the Lynnville-Sully girls will bounce back as they prepare for their next race.
Stay tuned for updates on their journey as they aim for redemption and improved rankings in the coming weeks.
