Sports Ink., August 2015

A magazine focusing on all things sports in northwest Kansas

INK. August 2015

BACK IN BUSINESS

While area schools work towards football season, coaches try not to push the limits of summer.

The Hays Daily News

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Brandon Zenner, Sports Ink. Victoria’s Noah Dreiling celebrates after hauling in a catch for a two-point conversion at the Eight-Man All-Star Games on June 6 in Beloit.

Star studded 13 6 What’s up?

Back in

business

Area high schools

reap the benefits of

Behind the plate Hays Larks catcher Garrett McKinzie sits down for this month’s Q&A

summer workouts

A look inside this issue

5

11

The extra half mile KSHSAA will put boys and girls on

an equal playing field when both run the same distance this postseason.

Who’s that?

Notable

performances from northwest Kansas.

Sports Ink. contributors: Nick McQueen nmcqueen@dailynews.net Brandon Zenner bzenner@dailynews.net, Vinny Benedetto vbenedetto@dailynews.net, Jolie Green jgreen@dailynews.net Volume 5, Issue 6 Sports Ink. is published and distributed by The Hays Daily News. Copyright © 2015 Harris Enterprises. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Sports Ink. is a registered trademark of The Hays Daily News, 507 Main, Hays, KS 67601 (785) 628-1081.

Brandon Zenner, Sports Ink. The West squad huddles up and joins hands in a post-game prayer after the Division II Eight-Man All-Star game on June 6 in Beloit.

Eight-man games prove worth For starters

Brandon

W

Zenner

henever I made the four-hour move from the suburbs of Kansas City to Hays, one of the first things I was told I would be covering was the Kansas Eight-Man All-Star Games in Beloit. I knew that eight-man football existed, but I would be lying if I knew the first difference between it and 11-man football besides the field size and the number of players on the field.

I knew of the legend of Smith Center and that the local Victoria Knights were the reigning state champions, so I was intrigued with the hand I was dealt. I had no clue that it was a run-heavy game. I was shocked, and impressed, to see how many athletes play both ways.

And I fell in love with it.

Page 4

First off, there’s something different about 11-man and eight-man football and just the feeling one gets from watching it. I don’t know how to describe it, but it is a neat spectacle to witness. The players are just as athletic and the schemes are just as effective. Also, I have come to notice in my short time here that small schools bring a lot of pride to their athletics, and it absolutely shows on the field.

The Eight-Man All-Star Games in Beloit themselves are two of the most unique spectacles I have covered in my sports career. It ranks up there with the Missouri State Wrestling Championships, where all four classes battle simultaneously in the finals, and the NCAA Division II Regional Men’s Basketball Championships. Not only was it refreshing to watch football in June, but it is a superbly run event of which the eight-man community takes a lot of pride.

Before each game, the athletes are honored individually on the field with their family, where they receive a medal. The players wear classic, practice-style jerseys.

This event does not need any flashy, neon August 2015

jerseys to be one-of-a-kind.

From talking to the players and coaches (the teams are only made up of 20 players), you can tell how close everybody becomes in their five to six days they spend together.

In many cases players are coming together with players from rival schools. They embrace each of their newfound teammates and hope they end up in lifelong friendships. The players that partake in this really look to get something out of the event beyond a look from a college coach, unlike higher-level all-star games, per se.

Lastly, there is nothing like this event.

Between its small-town feel and quaintness, you really feel an energy from the event that is truly unique and gratifying. It’s no wonder the players are so proud to play in the event, along with the coaches.

Next summer, do yourself a favor and make your way to Beloit to take in this spectacle. Not only will you not regret it, but it will enhance your perception on the game and leave you that much more excited for the Friday Night Lights to return in the fall.

SPORTS INK.

Who’s That?

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Notable performances in northwest Kansas Augie Gallardo

Gallardo, a senior-to-be at Eastern Michigan, has been the ace of the Hays Larks staff this summer.

On way to being 3-1 on the season, Gallardo allowed just two earned runs in a three-game, 20-inning span between June and July. He has an earned run average of 1.63 and has 40 strikouts, including a season-best 11 over eight innings against Dodge City on June 16, when he allowed just three hits.

Layne Bieberle Bieberle, a standout for the Eight-Man Division I Football State Champions at Central Plains and future Fort Hays State athlete, starred in the All-Star game June 6 in Beloit. As a member of the West team, Bieberle hauled in two receiving touchdowns, though the East would hold off the West for a 40-38 victory. Bieberle led all receivers, hauling in nine catches while tallying 112 yards on afternoon to end his highschool career.

Kyler Kinnamon

Kinnamon, who is set to compete for the Fort Hays State University men’s basketball team this fall, had a solid game in the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Game in June in Salina.

Kinnamon had 14 points and was 6 of 8 from the field in a 118-91 victory for the White Team.

Kinnamon, a graduate of back-to-back Class 4A Division I champion McPherson, is one of three FHSU signees who competed in the game, along with Scott City’s Trey O’Neill and Hays High’s Brady Werth.

Hunter Brown

Brown, who will be a sophomore at Hays High School this fall, has had a solid summer for the Hays Junior American Legion Eagles.

Through July 14, Brown helped Hays to a 14-16 mark with solid skills at the plate.

Brown was batting .361 in 30 games played, collecting 30 hits in 83 at bats with a teambest 24 runs scored. He also was third on the team in runs driven in, while carrying a .450 on-base percentage with 14 walks. Brown had seven doubles and two triples as well.

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“Obviously, the teams that work a lot

harder during the summer are the ones you’ll hear about at the end of the season...”

— Brady Dinkel, Victoria senior

BACK IN BUSINESS Brandon Zenner, Sports Ink. Victoria’s Bryant Karlin (left) and Tyler Knowls push a sled during football practice June 25 at Victoria High School.

Page 6

August 2015

SPORTS INK.

B

efore the sun eclipses the horizon each summer pion begins just weeks after the final bell of the school morning, Kansas seems to be peaceful and lifeless. year rings. And with the increased summer periods It’s well known the day’s temperaset forth by the Kansas State High School Story by tures begin in the mid-70s or 80s, and Activities Association in recent years, quickly flirt with triple digits by midday.

Brandon Zenner coaches and players have more access to Somewhere, though, plenty of activity working than ever before. is ongoing. Cleats begin to wear as they rustle against the “Summer’s a crucial time of the year, always,” said grass, or at least what is left of it in the scorching WestDoug Oberle, head coach of the Victoria Knights, the ern Kansas summer. The rattle of a coach’s whistle can reigning Eight-Man Division II champions. “Now with be heard from the clear side of town. After a few hours, the availability to get with your players and work on skill T-shirts are drenched in sweat. sets, it just becomes even more crucial. In terms of our It is all because, before you know it, those early team and what we get out of it is crucial. The summer mornings rapidly will turn into “Friday Night Lights.” each and every year continues to be a focus for us and we The battle to reign supreme as next year’s state cham- try to get better.”

continued on page 8

SPORTS Ink.

August 2015

Page 7

Bryant Karlin (left) works on his swim moves with Tyler Knowls on June 25 at Victoria.

Beginning May 23, under KSHSAA regulations, coaches of all sports, including football, are allowed to coach teams in non-school competitions and conduct workouts or practices. The rule change, which came back in 2008, gave equity to football, volleyball and basketball coaches in comparison to other high school sports which did not have summer restrictions set. With these rules, coaches have the ability to start diving into the playbook and begin developing athletes, in some cases, before school is even complete.

“A few years ago when the coaches and schools brought to the association and to our board, asking for a little more open opportunities, at least allow the coaches to work with their own kids, I think previously with the limitations … it felt like if they’re working with them, they’re probably getting more than if they’re going out and working with someone else,” said Mark Lentz, assistant executive director and administrator for football, wrestling and track and field for KSHSAA. “It kind of just gets them that opportunity. Our executive board basically opened it up a little bit, allowing them to have from Memorial Day to July 18 this year to give them an opportunity to work with their kids instead of having to worry about numbers and those type of things.”

Prior to the rule change, coaches were forced to have their players go elsewhere for work and could never really be sure of how many players they are potentially working with until August sessions.

While the years have passed since then, Lentz said KSHSAA has mostly seen positive results.

“I think most of the feedback has been positive. There’s always those who at times feel like they have to do stuff in the summer because others are doing it. I’m sure there are some who would be happy if we reigned back in a little bit,” Lentz said. “It kinda just depends on where you’re at, what part of the state you’re in and what you wanna do with the kids and how much you are spending time with your kids.”

Significant changes took place in KSHSAA’s April meeting, though, which has increased the period for which

coaches may introduce contact drills.

Starting Aug. 16, regulations permit coaches to inch closer and closer to full contact, which is allowed beginning Aug. 20 through the remainder of the year.

Certain restrictions remain with the type of full-contact drills, which are defined by USA Football, but coaches now have more access to introduce live practicing to their athletes weeks in advance to playing in a regular season game.

For Oberle, most of his summer is spent working with his kids on strength and agility in the weight room before doing light football activity, as well as bring his team to camps, as he did at Fort Hays State University in June.

While he does not work around full contact drills, he is not sure the increased time is absolutely necessary in today’s game.

“KSHSAA’s gonna do what KSHSAA does. They’re governed by the pulse of John Montgomery, head football coach at TMP, applauds his players during camp what’s going on in today’s society and July 14 at TMP. they’re doing what other states are dorule changes to point of contact when making tackles, most noing,” Oberle said. “It’s a fine line. … You want to increase their tably leading with the helmet, as well as an increase in protectechnique, increase how they’re hitting and how they’re blocktion in today’s helmets. ing and if you can’t do it live, it does make it difficult because “I think (player’s safety) is always a question. You continue you’re not gonna get better. Can you do it within the context to want to minimize risk the best you can. We hope that our of minimizing your contact and taking people to the ground? schools are making really good decisions, and I’m sure they Yeah, without question. are, to be honest,” Lentz said. “They always gotta keep the kid “Those coaches that are physical and run a lot of that stuff and number one because really, it’s about the kid and it’s not about bring people to the ground every day, it’s just gonna change us as administrators or about the coaches. We gotta keep them how they operate. I don’t know if it’s gonna help the game or number one. Hopefully this isn’t hurting player’s safety or hurt the game. ” putting kids at risk, but hopefully the kids are probably a little Since 2005, according to the National Center for Catastrophic better prepared physically when they do start the fall season.”

Sport Injury Research at the University of North Carolina at Jon Webster, head football coach at La Crosse, believes there Chapel Hill, there have been 32 fatalities directly from particiare positives and negatives to increased contact in the summer pation in football. Positively, the past decade has recorded the and is about making expectations clear at the start. fewest fatalities from neck and brain injuries since 1931, which commends coaches teaching correct tackling techniques and

continued on page 10

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“It’s a good thing and a bad thing. …

You really have to do a fine line in the summer and without there being any kind of regulations as far as when you can hit, which is basically when the summer starts, you can go light each other up as much as you want,” Webster said.

“With the contact, I think you have to be really smart with it. You get kids in pads for the first time in months and lots of times they wanna go out there and just hit. You have to make sure you’re peeling kids back.

“When you scrimmage somebody, you have to make sure both sides understand that nobody is winning a state title in July on these fields. You have to make sure all these kids are playing with safety in mind and they’re staying up and they’re not taking cheap shots and that type of stuff to put somebody at risk for losing their season.”

With the new expanded rules in contact and player access, new Hays High School football coach Randall Rath feels that unlimited access in football puts a strain on coaches for other sports who also want that access. At smaller schools where most kids play every sport, as is the case in many areas of Kansas, it prohibits the players from growing as an overall athlete and “makes the kids feel torn.”

“I personally would’ve liked to almost see KSHSAA go back to the rules they used to have where you had a week with your kids to work with and just let them be in the weight room the rest of the time because it benefits all the sports,” Rath said. “Now, it’s such a cutthroat thing in the summer where you can work with your kids, and if you don’t you just get behind the eight ball.

“I think it’s made kids individualize, which I’m very much against — I don’t think that’s what high school athletics are for.”

While KSHSAA has allowed players and coaches to have contact with each other, it has not taken the step the NCAA took in late 2013, which was in effect for the summer of 2014. The NCAA now allows coaches to make up to eight hours of workouts mandatory to players enrolled in summer school and any players who have higher than a cumulative 2.2 grade point average. Prior to these regulations, those workouts were “voluntary” and led to much controversy, as there is in the high school ranks.

The NCAA’s proposal was based on the fact that the “relationship between coach and student-athlete” will be enhanced.

Page 10

Bryant Karlin and Tyler Knowls gets rep in on the sled June 25 at Victoria.

While it is unsure if those lengths will ever be reached in high school, Rath is all for letting his kids enjoy as much of the summer and isn’t sure the rules have made football any better in Kansas.

“I’m not sure if they have. I think the new rule has made kids feel like they’re torn because the football coach wants them, the basketball coach wants them, the baseball coach wants them, all the coaches want them and you only have so many weeks to do it. I think these kids gotta be kids,” Rath said.

Oberle, who has his kids working out just before 6 a.m. Monday through Thursday for an hour, has similar feelings towards the regulations as Rath.

“I don’t want to take a ton of their time in the summer. It’s a little bit of a balance act. I fight that every year. Am I doing too much? Am I not doing enough?

“I talk to other coaches all the time about what they’re doing in the summer, and it August 2015

varies,” Oberle added. “There’s coaches that are doing two-and-a-half hour practices four days a week in the mornings. That’s not for me, but everybody’s just trying to find what’s best for them and their team.

It’s definitely something that you’re always checking the pulse of what everybody else is doing.”

As Victoria senior Brady Dinkel puts it, there are a number of kids who participate in football, basketball and baseball, all while working and trying to enjoy their summer. They don’t mind, as they know the reward that awaits at the end of the season.

“We try to come in every day and put as much effort into it as we can to get better every day,” Dinkel said. “It’s a full day, that’s for sure. We’re busy all day, every day, but we make it work. … It’s good for us.

“Obviously, the teams that work a lot harder during the summer are the ones you’ll hear about at the end of the season and will do better.”

SPORTS INK.

File photo Area runners start the Mid-Continent League cross country meet in Phillipsburg last fall. This year, all regional and state meets will use the 5K course. In past years, girls ran a 4K or 2.5-mile course.

Kansas girls going the extra half mile in 2015

Kansas became one of the last states to The added distance is equivalent to a little change the distance female cross country more than two laps around a regulation-size participants run in the postseason when the track, but concerns are that the slight Kansas State High School Acincrease could have an Story by tivities Association announced unintended impact on the Vinny Benedetto number of participants, its decision in June.

Starting this fall, girls will especially in smaller run a 5K — just like the boys — in the reschools. gional and state meets. Schools still have the “What I am concerned about is keeping option to run the previous distance of 4K at the number of girls that we have in cross home meets, but one coach doesn’t believe country at the current level, which is very that will be a very popular option. low,” said Colby High School coach Chris “I expect to see most of them go to 5K, Giersch. “We normally just have enough to if not all of them,” said Thomas More fill a varsity team and, if lucky, maybe one Prep-Marian coach Matt Dumler. extra runner.”

Dumler added it didn’t make sense to him to The change was proposed in the past, but run a 4K early in the year when everyone will the conversation resurfaced as result of a be running another .6 miles at the end of the complaint filed with the U.S. Office of Civil season. A local runner agreed.

Rights on behalf of a Kansas runner, accord“I would make sure that all the meets are ing to a KSHSAA release. the same distance, because it’s kinda weird Harris said coaches across the state voted to have it just as postseason,” said Norton against the change each time they were senior Molly Maddy. polled by KSHSAA in the past. While the Although only a handful of states still use release said there has been growing supseparate distances, not all area coaches are port from coaches and administrators, the in favor of the decision. change was a result of a vote by the KSHSAA SPORTS INK.

August 2015

Executive Board.

Norton coach George Rossi shared a more supportive opinion.

“I am fine with the girls running a 5K, mainly because I feel that girls are quite capable of competing at a high level at that distance,” Rossi said. “Since most of the states around us compete at a 5K distance, it puts Kansas girls on a level equal to other states.”

Another of Rossi’s runners believes the increased distance will reward more dedicated athletes.

“I’m kind of excited,” Raenee Patterson said. “It’s going to be hard I know, but I think it will really show the teams that are there to compete are willing to go that extra half mile to be a champion.”

Harris and Dumler said their dissenting opinions had nothing to do with a female’s ability to complete or compete at a longer distance.

“It’s not one of those things where I don’t think girls can do it,” Harris said. “I go out and run road races and get my butt kicked by plenty of girls.”

continued on page 12

Page 11

File photo Hays High runner Haley George avoids the mud while competing at the Hays High Invitational last year. Although the KSHSAA ruling only states that regional and state meets will be 5K races, most coaches expect all other meets to follow those guidelines.

Harris also pledged to sell the change as a good thing to his athletes. One of the benefits, he said, is a blank record book for the girls.

“As long as they hang on to their book, they can show their kids that they were once in the Top 10 at Hays High,” Harris quipped.

Proponents of the change cited a boost to recruiting for area athletes, but Dumler and Harris aren’t sold on that idea.

“They’re doing 5K in the summer anyways,” Dumler said of top runners with hopes of running in college.

“If you’ve got a good 4K runner, colleges are going to notice her,” Harris added.

Coaches also mentioned that men and women run different distances in NCAA meets. The men’s championship course is 6.2 miles compared to the 3.7 miles women run. Harris also mentioned that high school girls use a smaller basketball, lower hurdles and lighter shot puts than their male counterparts.

Most coaches and runners mentioned some sort of change to their regular training programs to prepare for the added distance, starting in the summer. Patterson and Maddy said they’re a little anxious for their first competitive 5K, especially since the first meets will take place toward the end of summer.

The TMP coach understands the jitters, but thinks they won’t be much of an issue after the first few meets.

“They’re nervous about it, but I think the fears will subside once they get out there,”

Dumler said.

While not everyone is thrilled about the change, both coaches and athletes vowed to approach the new season with a sense

of positivity. “(There’s) nothing we can do about it, so might as well make the best of the situation,” Patterson said.

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AND GARRETT MCKINZIE with

Garrett McKinzie serves as the wall behind home plate as the Hays Larks’ catcher. From Raymore, Mo., McKinzie spent his early days at Kansas City Kansas Community College before heading to Emporia State last season. With his future leading him to William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo., McKinzie gives us insight into his life off the diamond, his love for his hometown team — the Kansas City Royals — and reflects on his summer in Hays.

What has your time with the Larks been like?

Amazing. I’ve been on some baseball teams that I haven’t been meshed well with the guys and the atmosphere was OK, but here in Hays it’s wonderful. I would love to come back here and play here again next year with the guys — they’re great – on the team. It’s a big family and it’s real special. I love it.

What is your greatest asset as a player?

I think I call a game real well. I think my biggest part of my game is being able to see a hitter’s weaknesses and capitalize on them.

What was it like having the Larks coaches watch you?

Coach Harper came out and saw me and we met as I was taking BP on the field. He told me about the staff we had coming in and how good they were gonna be. He was telling the truth. We got a very good staff. He’s always very excited. Coach Harper’s very emotional and very intense about everything. He’s a great coach to have and he knows a lot when it comes to pitching. He’s an expert

SPORTS INK. Sports Ink

HAYS LARKS CATCHER

at the game.

What have you missed most about Kansas City?

I think the hills. It’s pretty flat out here.

Driving up and down hills, I do miss that a little bit. Other than that, there isn’t too much. It’s a lot of fun out here, and it’s a great place to be. I do love the flats because you can see for miles around. It is beautiful out here.

What has been your favorite moment as a baseball player?

That’s tough. I think my favorite moment overall was when I was 16 years old and my dad was one of the coaches, and we had two other guys we knew really well, and a bunch of guys I’ve played with for such a long time. We went out to Denver, Colo, and we played in the World Series out there and we ended up winning it. It was fun to have my dad there because he’s been coaching me since I’ve grown up and taught me a lot about the game. He has been, without a doubt, my biggest coach and my biggest supporter in baseball. Winning that with him and all the guys I played with since I was 9 years old was awesome.

Which Lark is the most fun to play with?

Gotta be Corky. He is a loose cannon a little bit. He says what’s on his brain and he’s from the south. All of his slang words and phrases he comes up with – uh, he’s hilarious.

Which Lark is most likely to start a fight on the field?

That’s probably Nick Goza. He’s so full of passion and energy and Lark pride,

it is unbelievable. He would die for the Larks.

What’s the toughest part about being a catcher?

Being between a pitcher that isn’t having success and is angry, is upset, because you find to find a way to calm them down and get them to throw strikes.

It’s now always easy to get inside their mind and tell them, ‘Listen, we need to slow down. I want you to rethink. Just because you’re mad can’t affect the way you pitch. You have to begin to throw strikes for us, we need you to fill it up and be our guy.’ I think that’s just learning how to handle every pitcher that’s out there, whether they’re having a good day or bad day. Knowing how to keep them in their rhythm, when to slow them down, what to say to them because each guy’s different.

What’s the fastest pitch you’ve ever caught?

I think I’ve caught a 95 mph two-seam and 95 looks quite different than 90. It was pretty quick. … I was glad I caught it. I’m glad it was thrown at my glove.

Who’s your favorite catcher in the majors?

Salvador Perez. I’m a hometown fan from Kansas City. He’s got an unbelievable arm, great defense and commands his pitching staff very well.

What’s going to be the end result for the Royals this season?

They’ve kinda hit a rough patch but they’ve started to turn things around. I think it’s great we got guys in the All-Star Game. In the end for us, I think we can

August 2015 June 2015

Interview, photo by Brandon Zenner

make it back to the World Series. I think we can do it this year, again. We’ve shown a lot of people that Kansas City is back on the map again when it comes to baseball, we’re really reclaiming things and we gotta stay Royal. I think we can take the World Series this year. I think we got the guys to do it and I know we have the bullpen to do it. Our bullpen is unbelievable but we just gotta keep fighting and win games.

If you could catch one Royal, who would it be?

Wade Davis, no doubt. His curveball is filthy. Going from an 85-mph curveball to a 96 fastball is stupid.

What was it like playing baseball in the MIAA? The MIAA is great for baseball. There’s a lot of good players. I’ve played with a lot of great guys, a lot of great athletes. I’ll probably miss playing against my friends I’ve grown up with, some guys I played at KCKCC with. It’s fun seeing them across the diamond, getting to see them.

Who’s your favorite Lark to watch when you’re behind home plate?

Michael Burns. He is a highlight show in himself. The play he made where he double off the kid at second base, goes slamming into the wall and then throws the guy out — he covers more ground out in the outfield than anybody I’ve ever seen. It is a thrill to watch him. Balls get hit hard in the gap and I’m like ‘Uhh, that’s a double,” and then Michael Burns comes out of nowhere and catches the ball or comes in and saves a bloop hit from being a single. Michael Burns is one of the funnest to watch.

Page Page 13 11

No need for all runners to run by KSHSAA’s rules The Closer

Vinny

Benedetto

Like it or not, all varsity cross country runners will be running 3.1 miles in regional and state meets this year, and after talking with a couple of area coaches, it seems as though the girls can count on running a 5K at most other meets this season.

The Kansas State High School Activities Association announced the change earlier this summer.

Area coaches have expressed more concerns than excitement, especially at smaller schools where there is concern over losing potential runners.

While I think the state made the right decision by increasing the varsity distance, junior varsity races should stay at the previous distance of 4K to avoid scaring young runners away from the sport that has lasting benefits.

Most host schools should already have a 4K course charted from previous years. Keeping the junior varsity runners aware of where to split from the group would only take a few visible signs and volunteers.

Although it might seem like anyone willingly going out for cross country would be a dedicated runner capable of completing 3.1 miles and quoting running legend Steve Prefontaine, that’s not the case.

In my brief and unremarkable two years as a junior varsity runner, I used the sport to stay in shape for my game of choice, soccer. I attended practice and completed the daily drills to help condition but rarely pushed myself during meets.

My lackadaisical approach was not uncommon. Others used the sport as a way to get in better physical condition or experience being a member of an athletic team.

Cross country is unique in its ability to accommodate a large amount of ath-

File photo Runners start their 2.5-mile course in the 2014 Class 4A regional cross country meet in Hays.

letes with varying levels of skill. Unlike other sports, there’s really no limit to how many runners can be on the course at once. Why turn away some

kids who are trying to better themselves through the sport?

Allowing the more recreational runners to run a slightly shorter course

ACIDIZING

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TOOL RENTAL

Michael Burns Hays Larks

Burns, a Hays Larks’ outfielder who was at Wichita State University last spring, has been a true workhorse for Hays’ summer baseball team. Through July 14, Burns had played in 36 games, and was the teams’ leading active hitter with a .365 average. Burns collected 54 hits — most on the team by 18 — with eight doubles, two triples and three home runs. He also drove in 13 runs, walked 14 times, and led the team in total bases at 75.

The speedy Burns also led the team in stolen bases. He was just six steals away from climbing into the all-time Top 10 list for Hays.

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would also help meets from dragging on in what could be extreme heat. If every runner completes a 5K, times close to 30 or 40 minutes wouldn’t be uncommon.

For serious runners who have run varsity races and trained in the months leading up to the season, the extra halfmile shouldn’t be overly intimidating.

For those interested in trying the sport for the first time, there might be legitimate concerns over a longer distance.

A 2.5-mile distance would allow newcomers to get a feel for the sport without the pressure of running the same distance as peers who train year round and have been running for years.

Distance running is an activity with numerous physical and psychological benefits. We should help more people get involved without compromising the new varsity standards.

With the sport’s unmatched ability to allow an almost endless number of participants to compete at once and 2.5-mile courses already measured, schools and race organizers should accommodate younger and less experienced runners with the option of running a shorter course, if they so choose.

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