Nevada, Fort Scott compete in Pittsburg meet

PITTSBURG, Kan. -- Both Nevada and Fort Scott high schools sent runners to Four Oaks Golf Course here Thursday to compete in the Pittsburg Invitational.

The highest finisher from either school in varsity competition was Nevada's Todd Brier, who finished 15th in the 5,000-meter boys' race with a time of 16:43. Charlie Sercer was the only Fort Scott runner in the race, placing 41st in 18:04.

Also for Nevada, Josh Newman ran a 19:35, Mike Bray 20:36, Don Habian 21:10 and Chris Bray, 21.52.

The individual winner was Austin Bogina at Northeast-Arma (Kan.) in 15:36. He is the son of Fort Scott head coach Tracey Bogina.

The team champion was Joplin with 45 points followed by Paola, Kan., with 50 and Chanute, Kan., with 104. Nevada finished last in the nine-school field with 271 points.

In the 4,000-meter girls' varsity race, Fort Scott's Morgan Tourtillott finished 24th in 18:43 while teammate Kim Stone was 39th in 20:34. For Nevada, Emily Watts was the highest finisher, running 20:46 to finish 41st. Steph Mosbrucker ran a 22:05 and Lynsay Farmer finished in 24:23.

Paola's Emily Prothe won the race in 16:40. Chanute was the team champ with 48 points.

Fort Scott finished fourth in girls' JV competition with 92 points. Joplin was the winner with 39 points followed by Pittsburg with 44 and Girard with 79.

Individually, Jenna Harper was seventh in 18:52, Leah Cassleman 11th in 19:10, Katelyn Torres 18th in 19:52, Megan Midkiff 23rd in 20:43 and Autumn Owenby 33rd in 22:58. Nevada's only entrant, Danielle Stanhope, finished with a time of 27:27.

In the boys' JV race, Fort Scott's Keenan Gregory finished in seventh place with his time of 18:32. Julian Wiechert was 26th in 19:52 and Colton Ballou 45th in 20:56. Nevada's Chase Brooks, his school's only runner, finished in 25:49.

Fort Scott will go to Independence, Kan., next Thursday while Nevada will compete at Carl Junction, Mo.