The 2007 season kicked off several years of dominance for the Mulvane Men's Cross Country Team

MHS - Cross Country / May 30, 2020 By Kasey McDowell


The 2007-08 Mulvane Cross Country season was a magical season as the team won most of the meets throughout the season, dominated the regional meet at Clearwater the previous week and then took the field by storm at the state meet in Wamego.

The Mulvane team finished with six state medalists, a feat normally unheard of in Cross Country. Junior David Roberts led the field and was the individual 4A state champion with a time of 16:30.3. Roberts had been the individual champion in every meet throughout the regular season and at regionals. Nikki Trooien-Smith finished in 7th place with a 17:03.15 followed by Evan Landes in 16th place with a 17:27.1, Nick Lockwood in 18th place with a 17:35.1, Wyatt James in 19th place with a 17:35.9, and Josh Hansen in 20th place with a 17:37.9.

"We went in hoping to take state six medals individually or run a 17:45 time, and these guys made both of those goals. It's been a great ride, a very special season. Going into it, I thought we were still a year away, but these guys have exceeded everything I thought they could do. So we're going to enjoy it. I also think it's special for the community to have a state championship." said Coach Landes after the state meet.

"All of our runners went out and tried to stay calm and keep their own pace no matter what," said Landes. "The lead group went out at an incredible pace, one that would have been hard for anybody to hold fo the whole race. Our kids really started at the back of the pack and each one of them just worked their way up, and that plan worked perfectly for us."

"Those early hills took their toll on the other runners but our kids trusted their ability and stayed with he plan and remained calm," said Coach Landes. "Roberts was definitely excited about being the state champion. All his hard work and the mileage he put in really paid off for him."

"To do it with a junior, three sophomores, and two freshmen at the boys level shows the talent at these guys have." continued Coach Landes. "Generally, if you're going to see underclassmen dominate it, it's on the girls side because boys get stronger and the state meet is usually dominated by juniors and seniors. That takes us back to the fact that these guys are very talented and they've worked very hard." This will be evident over the next three years as it turns out.

4A-1A State Meet Results
1. Mulvane - 23 points
2. Baldwin - 72 points
3. DeSoto - 80 points
4. Wamego - 126 points
5. Paola - 129 points
6. El Dorado - 150 points
7. Clay Center - 173 points
8. Hesston - 210 points
9. Santa Fe Trail - 241 points
10. Buhler - 247 points
11. Augusta - 275 points
12. Circle - 287 points

4A State Medalists
1st: David Roberts (16:30.3)
7th: Nikki Trooien-Smith (17:03.15)
16th: Evan Landes (17:27.1)
18th: Nick Lockwood (17:35.1)
19th: Wyatt James (17:35.9)
20th: Josh Hansen (17:37.9)

Other MHS Finishes
94th: Nathan Sooby (19:58.2)

4A All-State Academic Team: David Roberts



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