Olathe cross country faces minor setback

GRAND JUNCTION — The Olathe cross country team traveled to Grand Junction Central on Friday and overcame a minor setback.

The Pirates did not have enough runners on their team in order to qualify for a team score.

However, the Pirates didn’t let the setback hurt them. Olathe was still able to compete and earn individual scores in the 3.1-mile run.

Olathe’s head cross country coach Vic Kintz said he thought the team struggled on Friday.

“It was so-so for us,” Kintz said. “Some of them ran better last year.”

In the girls 5k, Olathe’s Samantha Jacobsen placed 19th out of 60 runners. Olathe’s Christi Knob placed 42nd, while the Pirates’ Ashley Brew placed 54th out of 60.

In the boys 5k, Roberto Contreras was Olathe’s best, placing 33rd out of 78. Olathe’s Fabin Hightower followed shortly after in 39th, while the Pirates Marco Miranda and Dustin Kelso placed 63rd and 66th out of 78 respectively.

Kintz said while the Pirates weren’t at their best, they did OK for so early in the season and that he was sure they would improve.

“We’re really just getting started and we’re not in the best shape,” Kintz said. “But they are good kids and they work hard. They think we’ve been working hard, but we’re going to be working harder.”

The Olathe cross country team next competes in Gunnison on Sat., Sept